
Class Es-j^A 

Book - d ~ 

xo~rh 

Copyright^ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




BREV. MAJ.-GEN'L O. B. WILLCOX. 




MAJ. -GENERAL BURNSIDE. 



THE STORY 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN 
INFANTRY 

yil.)* rjth, r862 t TO MAY 30th, 1863 

EMBRACING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS 

ON FILE IN Till REC< >RDS OF THE STATE 

OK MICHIGAN WD < >!• Till UNIT] D 
STATES RE II RRING I >K RELATIVE 

T< ) I III R] GIM] \ 1 . 



COMPILED BY 

B Y RON M. CUTCHEON 

l ORMERLY COLON] L 01 THE REGIMENT 



LANSING, MICHIGAN 
ROBERT SMITH PRINTING CO., PRINTERS AND BINDERS 

i 904 



£514- 



LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

DEC 14 1904 

Copyngni Entry 

CUSS (X, XXc. Noi 

COPY B. 



COPYRIGHT, 1904 
BY BYRON M. CUTCHEON 



PREFACE. 



Almost from the time of its muster out and disbandment, there has been a 
purpose or hope among the men who constituted the Twentieth Michigan, that at 
some time a record should be made and published of the part taken by that 
regiment in the war for the Union, during the years from 1862 to 1865. But the 
actual work of preparation and writing has been postponed from year to year 
until more than forty years have gone by since the regiment was summoned 
to arms. Many years ago, Lieutenant Charles W. Maynard commenced the 
work of collecting copies of letters and diaries written by members of the 
regiment during the war, more with the view of producing a narrative for his 
own family and friends than for a history to be published. 

At the annual reunion of the regiment in 1899, Colonel B. M. Cutcheon was 
appointed historian, and associated with Lieutenant Maynard, who had previously 
been designated assistant historian, and a new effort was inaugurated to put the 
material accumulated into form for publication. At the reunion of 1900, at 
Ypsilanti, the association of the regiment endorsed the enterprise, voted to sup- 
port it financially, and selected a "committee en publication" to act with the his- 
torians in passing upon the matter to be published. It has not been considered 
best to make a voluminous work nor to go to any extent into personal matters, 
but to make a brief and compact story of the organization, campaigns, battles 
and actions participated in by the command. To this short story are appended 
the official documents from the records of the war department and the State 
Adjutant General's office relating to the service, as well as the records from 
"Michigan in the War," printed by the authority of the state in 1879. These 
records were made by the Adjutant General, under authority of an act of 
the legislature, approved May 3, 1879, and may be regarded as official. 

The bringing together of these official documents in the appendix, thus con- 
stituting a real official history of the regiment, must be of very great value and 
interest to the survivors of the command, their families, friends and descendants. 
These official records made within a few days or weeks of the events narrated, 
are more likely to be accurate than the memory of men now already old, from 
thirty or forty years after the events recalled. 

In these official records will be found every report ever made by an officer 
commanding the regiment, and, it is believed, every report of a brigade com- 
mander in which this regiment is mentioned. 

To these are added several division reports. The history of the Twentieth 
is so interwoven with that of the rest of the old brigade, that this story becomes 
in a large measure the history of the brigade and division. Into this story 
have also been incorporated sketches of our commanders ; Burnside, Willcox 



PREFACE 



Poe, Humphrey and Hartranft, with brief mention of Parke, Potter, Leasure, 
Withington, W. Huntington Smith and others. 

''Some of the comrades will doubtless be disappointed at not finding in this 
history more of a personal nature, especially records of special instances of 
heroic conduct, notable escapes from death, or other thrilling personal episodes. 

Such matter would have been most interesting, but both the author and the 
committee of publication were of the opinion that it must be omitted; first, be- 
cause it would swell the size of the volume to undue proportions and largely 
increase the cost, and second, because it would be possible to insert only a few 
of the many equally deserving instances, thus producing the effect of partiality 
and unjust discrimination. 

It is hoped by those in charge of the publication that all will cheerfully ac- 
quiesce in this view." 

This compilation and story of a gallant body of men who tried to do their 
whole duty in a patriotic and manly fashion, — a sincere work of love, — is now 
submitted to the survivors and the families of those who have passed over to 
the eternal camping grounds in the hope that it may meet their approval. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

PART I. 

CHAPTER I. 

recruiting' the regiment. 

Story of raising the companies— Officers and non-commissioned officers of the 
several companies — Where enlisted. 

CHAPTER II. 

THE RENDEZVOUS AND ORGANIZATION. 

The field and staff— Original line officers— The muster into U. S. Service. 

CHAPTER III. 

GOING TO THE FRONT — MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. 

Arrival at Washington— Fort Lyon— "Cow Hollow"— "Camp Starvation"— Fred- 
erick City — Antietam — Join the brigade. 

CHAPTER IV. 

ON THE POTOMAC — FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN. 

Crossing the mountains— Pleasant Valley— Nolan's Ford— Sulphur Springs- 
Arrival at Falmouth. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG — CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK 

General O. M. Poe— Picket— The Ninth Corps— The battle of the 13th of 
December— Plan of battle— Failure of the assault— The withdrawal. 

CHAPTER VI. 

AFTER THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 

Sickness and despondency— Movement to Newport News— Under General Dix— 
Movement to Kentucky— Burnside at Cincinnati— Arrival at Louisville. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER VII. 

KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 

To Bardstown— Lebanon— Columbia— Expedition to Monticello— The Scout 
to Alcorn's— The fight at the Narrows— Horseshoe Bend— Return to 
Columbia— Change in brigade— Down the Mississippi. 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN. 

Milldale— Flower Hill— March to Jackson— The attack— Fall of Jackson— De- 
stroying railroad — Up the river. 

CHAPTER IX. 

CINCINNATI TO KNOXVILLE. 

Camp Parke— Burial of Gen. Nelson— Movement to Crab Orchard— The march 
over the mountains to Morristown — Expedition to Greenville — Arrival at 
Knoxville. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN. 

The great solicitude of President Lincoln for East Tennessee— Plans interrupted 
—The Army of the Ohio— Surrender of Cumberland Gap— The battle of 
Blue Springs— Pursuit to Rheatown— Return to Knoxville— March to Lou- 
don — Camp at Lenoir's Station. 

CHAPTER XI. 

THE KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 

Battle at Campbell's Station— Death of Colonel Smith— The march to Knox- 
ville — Colonel Wm. Humphrey. 

CHAPTER XII. 

SIEGE 0E KNOXVILLE. 

Position of troops— Death of General Sanders— Sortie of the 17th Michigan- 
Charge of the 2d Michigan— Death of Captain Wiltsie— Death of Colonel 
Comstock— The assault on Fort Sanders— The repulse— Results of the 
victory— Losses of the division and regiment during siege. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER XIII. 



AFTER FORT SANDERS. 



Raising the siege— Rebel accounts of the assault— The causes of the repulse— The 
part of the Twentieth therein. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE WINTER IN EAST TENNESSEE. 

Pursuit of Longstreet— Change of commanders— Rutledge— Colonel Williams 
mustered out— Blain's Cross Roads— Change of brigades— Skirmish at 
Strawberry Plains— Movement to Knoxville— Camp at Erin— General 
Schofield takes command— Advance to Morristown— Skirmish at "Chucky 
Bend"— Back to Knoxville— Over the mountains to Annapolis. 

CHAPTER XV. 

ANNAPOLIS TO THE WILDERNESS. 

Major Barnes— Promotions in the regiment— Recruiting for regiment— March to 
Washington— Reviewed by President Lincoln— Camping near Arling- 
ton—The march to Warrentown Junction. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. 

March to Germanna Ford— The geography of the Wilderness— First day's battle 
—The battle of May 6— The charge of the 2d brigade— A drawn battle. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

FROM WILDERNESS TO SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

The Wilderness a battle in the jungle— Changes on the 7th— Movement to Chan- 
cellorsville— Rear guard duty— The battle-field of Chancellorsville— March 
to Alrich's — Michigan cavalry brigade. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE FIGHT AT NY RIVER. 

The march from Alrich's to the Ny— Crossing the river— A critical situation- 
Gallant charge of the Seventeenth Michigan— Taking the crest— Complete 
success — Importance of the position gained. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



CHAPTER XIX. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

Advance of May 10— The battle on the right— Colonel Cutcheon wounded— 
Major Barnes in command — Desperate fighting on May 12 — Terrible loss 
of the regiment— Death of Captains McCollum and Carpenter, and Lieu- 
tenants Ainsworth and Gould — Gallantry of Major Barnes — Disaster to 
the 17th Michigan — The 2d saves the batteries. 

CHAPTER XX. 

FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG. 

March to North Anna— Crossing the Paumucky— Battle at Bethesda Church- 
Cold Harbor — Crossing the James— Arrival at Petersburg. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG. 

The great flank movement from Cold Harbor to Petersburg— Crossing the 
James— Night march— To the Petersburg line— Charge of the 17th of June 
— Gallantry of the First Michigan Sharpshooters — Charge of the Twen- 
tieth on the 18th— Death of Major Barnes, commanding— Other severe 
losses— Colonel Humphrey again takes command of the brigade — Captain 
Grant in command of the regiment — Colonel Cutcheon returns and re- 
sumes command. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

SIEGE OF PETERSBURG — BATTEE OF THE CRATER. 

Life in the trenches— Daily firing and casualties— Withdrawal from front line- 
Preparing for the assault — The explosion of the mine — Advance of Ledlie's 
and Potter's divisions — The colored division — Stampede of the Fourth 
Division — Counter-assaults — Withdrawal of troops — Losses of regiment — 
Loss of the colors. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 

Battle of the Weldon Railroad— Fortifying— Battle of Ream's Station— Rest for 
a while. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 
Movement to the left— Poplar Spring Church— Program's farm— Death of Cap- 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



tain Blood and Adjutant Seibert — Reconnaissance to the Boydton plank 
road — Colonel Cutcheon takes command of the brigade— Captain Van 
Cleve in command of the regiment — Battle of Hatcher's Run. 

CHAPTER XXV. 

SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 

Movement to the right— Winter in the trenches— Major Grant in command- 
Colonel Cutcheon made colonel of the Twenty-seventh Michigan— remains 
in command of the brigade — Resigns — Lieutenant Colonel March in tem- 
porary command— Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Ely takes command— The 
assault on Fort Stedman. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG. 

April 2, 1865— Sheridan turns the rebel right— At Five Forks— Assault by the 
Ninth Corps ordered— Demonstration by the Second Brigade— Gallant 
charge of the First Sharpshooters— The enemy evacuates his lines— The 
Twentieth marches into Petersburg— Surrender to Major Lormsbury, 
Twentieth Michigan— Provost guard in Petersburg— Return to Washing- 
ton—The grand review— Mustered out— Back to Michigan— Disbanded. 

CHAPTER XXVII. 

OUR COMRADES OF THE OLD BRIGADE. 

General Willcox's farewell order— The other Michigan regiments— The Second 
and Seventeenth— The Eighth, Twenty-Seventh and First Sharpshooters. 

LAST WORDS. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. 

ARMY CORPS, DIVISION AND BRIGADE ORGANIZATIONS. 
l862 - 1865. 

Commanders under whom the regiment served— Willcox's division— The regi- 
ments which composed it— Authorities used in compilation of the history. 





LT. COL. W. H. SMITH. 



SURGEON S. S. FRENCH. 





COL. BYRON M. CUTCHEON. 



MAJ. GEO. C. BARNES. 





COL. C. B. GRANT. 



MAJ. FRANCIS PORTER. 






CAPT. A. A. VANCLEVE. CAPT. C. A. LOUNSBERRY. 





CAPT. A. A. DAY. 



SURGEON O. P. CHUBB. 





CAPT. \V. D. W1LTSIE. 



CAPT. W. A. DEWEY. 





CAPT. R. P. CARPENTER. 



CAPT. WALTER McCOLLUM. 





CAPT. H. F. ROBINSON. 



CAPT. OLIVER BLOOD. 





LIEUT. D. E. AIXSWORTH. 



LIEUT. JAMES B. GOOLD. 





LIEUT. JOSHUA B. LEELAND. 



LIEUT. A. W. BARNEY. 






LIEUT. WM. GREEN. 



LIEUT. CHAS. J. BROWN. 





LIEUT. GEO. B. HICKS. 



CAPT. CHAS. T. ALLEN. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE RAISING OF THE REGIMENT. 
July 15, 1862. August 19, 1862. 

The Twentieth Michigan Infantry had its origin in the call of President 
Lincoln for "three hundred thousand more," issued July 1, 1862, pursuant to 
the memorial of the Governors of the loyal states. Michigan's quota, under 
that call, was 11,686. After conferences between the authorities of the war 
department and the Governor and military officers of the state, the conclusion 
was reached that one regiment of infantry should be recruited from each of the 
six congressional districts, and one from Wayne county; and the remainder of 
the quota should be made up of cavalry and artillery from the state at large, 
and recruits for the existing regiments. The Seventeenth Regiment was already 
organized and well advanced toward completion, so that the seven new infantry 
regiments were numbered from 18 to 24, inclusive. Thus it came to pass that 
the Twentieth Regiment was assigned to the Third congressional district, con- 
sisting of Washtenaw, Jackson, Calhoun, Eaton and Ingham counties. The 
ten companies were authorized and located as follows : 

Company A— Lansing, Ingham county. 
Company B — Ypsilanti, Washtenaw county. 
Company C— Battle Creek, Calhoun county. 
Company D— Ann Arbor, Washtenaw county. 
Company E— Parma, Jackson county. 
Company F— Grass Lake, Jackson county. 
Company G — Eaton Rapids, Eaton county. 
Company H— Ann Arbor, Washtenaw county. 
Company I— Marshall, Calhoun county. 
Company K— Chelsea, Washtenaw county. 

It will therefore be seen that four of the ten companies were from Washtenaw 
county, two from Jackson county, two from Calhoun county, one from Eaton 
and one from Ingham county. In fact, county lines were not strictly observed, 
and a considerable number of Company F were enlisted from Washtenaw county, 
and a number of the men of Company D were recruited from Ingham county. 
Recruiting officers were authorized to recruit anywhere within the Third con- 
gressional district. 

One of the axioms of mathematics is that "the whole is equal to the sum 
of all its parts," and before we take up the history of the Twentieth Michigan 



12 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Infantry, — and we may as well say here, parenthetically, that as Michigan had 
no other Twentieth Regiment, we shall speak of it simply as the "Twentieth 
Michigan" — it is proper and desirable to give some brief account of the recruit- 
ing and organizing of the several constituent companies. 

COMPANY A. 

On July 23, 1862, William Huntington Smith, a citizen of Adrian in the 
first congressional district, but temporarily residing at Lansing as Deputy Auditor 
General, was commissioned by Governor Blair as second lieutenant and re- 
cruiting officer, and authorized to recruit a company in Ingham county. He 
associated with him, William A. Dewey, who was engaged in recruiting at Leslie, 
as second lieutenant and Darius C. Calkins as first lieutenant. Lieutenant Cal- 
kins had seen some service, having be?n commissioned in August, 1861, as 
second lieutenant of Company B, Second U. S. Sharpshooters. On the muster 
of the regiment, August 19, 1862, Captain Smith was commissioned and mus- 
tered as Major and Lieutenant Calkins was promoted and mustered as Captain 
of Company A, while Dewey was advanced to first lieutenant. The recruiting 
of the company went on very slowly until August 9, when a special effort was 
made in Lansing, and so many enlisted — mostly out of the state departments — 
that the company was filled and the following non-commissioned officers were 
appointed, namely : 

Sergeants. 

First Sergeant — William A. Barnard. 
Second Sergeant — William M. Green. 
Third Sergeant — Benjamin H. Berry. 
Fourth Sergeant — James M. Howland. 
Fifth Sergeant — Schuyler F. Seager. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — Henry B. Carpenter. 
Second Corporal — Albert E. Cowles. 
Third Corporal — E. Golden Filer. 
Fourth Corporal — Henry E. Hinkley. 
Fifth Corporal — Leonard C. Rice. 
Sixth Corporal — Thos. H. B. Morehouse. 
Seventh Corporal — Harmon W. Paddleford. 

On the promotion of Captain Smith to major, Sergeant B. H. Berry was pro- 
moted to second lieutenant, and each of the sergeants below him and the 
corporals were raised one file. As so organized, the company went into camp at 
Jackson. 

COMPANY B. 

On the morning of Tuesday, the 15th of July, 1862, Governor Austin Blair 
issued his proclamation calling for Michigan's quota of the 300,000 called out 



RECRUITING THE REGIMENT 13 

by the proclamation of President Lincoln, July 1. On the same morning, 
Byron M. Cutcheon was duly commissioned and mustered as second lieutenant 
and recruiting officer to raise a company for the Twentieth Michigan, his station 
being at Ypsilanti, where he had been engaged as principal of the high school of 
the Union Seminary. The same day he entered on his duties as recruiting officer, 
opening an office in Hewitt's block, Ypsilanti. During the previous year he 
had organized a company among the boys of the Union Seminary, which he 
had drilled in the foot movements, but without arms. 

Among those who had been under his instruction were Charles T. Allen, of 
Sharon, and Samuel H. Row, also of Sharon. Allen had enlisted and served in 
the First Michigan (3 months) regiment, as corporal of Company D ("Man- 
chester Union Guard"). These two undertook to assist in recruiting the com- 
pany (which became "Company B") and immediately set about recruiting at and 
about Manchester and Sharon and adjoining towns, with excellent success. 

Among those who had been connected with the "Ypsilanti Light Guard" was 
Alfred A. Van Cleve, one of the best drilled men in the guard. To him was 
offered the position of second lieutenant ; to Charles T. Allen that of first lieu- 
tenant, and to Samuel H. Row that of orderly sergeant. Van Cleve was not to 
do any active recruiting, but to take charge of the recruits as fast as they 
assembled, and put them at once under drill and prepare them to go to the 
regimental rendezvous. On Saturday, the 19th of July, a mass meeting was 
held at Hewitt's hall, and a bonus of $10.00 to each man was offered by 
citizens of Ypsilanti to all who would enlist from that town in the company. 
This promoted enlistments, so that by the 26th, orders were issued to proceed 
to camp at Jackson. Lieutenant Allen and Orderly Row proceeded directly from 
Manchester to Jackson with their enlisted men, while Captain Cutcheon and 
Lieutenant Va nCleve with the recruits assembled at Ypsilanti moved by the 
Michigan Central to the same place.* 

One other company had been to camp and had returned home again, but 
Company B was the first company to report at the rendezvous to remain per- 
manently. The company took to camp something more than a full quota of 
men, and several of the men enlisted in Company B were assigned for muster to 
other companies, which were deficient. The non-commissioned (or warrant) 
officers were as follows : 



14 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Sergeants. 

Orderly Sergeant — Samuel H. Row, (aged 22) Sharon. 
Second Sergeant — Prescott M. Skinner, Ypsilanti. 
Third Sergeant — Reuben E. Manning, Salem. 
Fourth Sergeant — John Thorns, Ypsilanti. 
Fifth Sergeant — John E. Irwin, Sharon. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — John W. Wise, Ypsilanti. 
Second Corporal — J. K. Morse, Sharon. 
Third Corporal — J. D. Norris, Manchester. 
Fourth Corporal — Oscar McLouth, Augusta. 
Fifth Corporal — William G. Shipman, Ypsilanti. 
Sixth Corporal — Lafayette A. Baker, Ypsilanti. 
Seventh Corporal — Henry M. Mellincamp, Sharon. 
Eighth Corporal — Theodore L. Thompson, Ypsilanti. 

company c. 

Among those commissioned by Governor Blair in the latter part of July, 1862, 
as second lieutenant and recruiting officer to raise a company for the Twentieth 
Michigan, was Geo. C. Barnes of Battle Creek. 

Lieutenant Barnes had been a sergeant in "Merrill's Horse" (2d Mo. Cav.), 
and he associated with him in recruiting Company C, Jos. H. Weeks, as first 
lieutenant, and Charles J. Brown, as second lieutenant. 

Together these three recruited the company and on the day before it was to 
go into camp an election was held which resulted in the selection of Barnes as 
captain, Weeks as first lieutenant and Brown as second lieutenant. The com- 
missions of these officers all date from July 29, 1862, although the company was 
not regularly organized until later. The officers and non-commissioned officers 
of Company C were as follows : 

Captain — George C. Barnes, Battle Creek. 
First Lieutenant — Jos. C. Weeks, Battle Creek. 
Second Lieutenant — Charles J. Brown, Battle Creek. 

Sergeants. 

First Sergeant — George B. Hicks. 
Second Sergeant — Adrian C. White. 
Third Sergeant — David Bidwell. 
Fourth Sergeant — Albert G. Barney. 
Fifth Sergeant — Walter H. Chadwick. 



RECRUITING THE REGIMENT 



Corporals. 

First Corporal — Alfred A. Ellsworth. 
Second Corporal — Eugene T. Freeman. 
Third Corporal— Ira W. Hulbert. 
Fourth Corporal — Andrew Knight. 
Fifth Corporal — George M. Cowles. 
Sixth Corporal — Aaron L. Stiles. < 
Seventh Corporal — Chas. B. Williams. 
Eighth Corporal — 

COMPANY D. 

About July 25, 1862, Claudius B. Grant, of Ann Arbor, then principal of the 
high school of that city, a graduate of the University of Michigan, received a 
commission from Governor Blair to recruit a company for the Twentieth Michi- 
gan. His connection with the high school and the university made him familiar 
with many young men of a class very suitable for good officers and non-commis- 
sioned officers. 

About the 29th of July he opened a recruiting office in Ann Arbor, in the 
one story wooden building next west of Cook's Hotel, and fronting the court 
house square. Captain Grant associated with him in raising his company Ros- 
well P. Carpenter, a graduate of the University of Michigan, in the class of 
1862, as first lieutenant, and David E. Ainsworth, an under-graduate of the 
university, as second lieutenant. Oliver Blood, of Dexter, had been engaged in 
recruiting in that village, and added quite a number of men to the company 
from that locality. Charles W. Maynard of Ann Arbor, commenced recruiting 
at Onondaga, Ingham county, and added nearly a dozen men from that vicinity. 
The men of this company were mostly enlisted from Ann Arbor, Dexter and 
Onondaga. 

About August 15, the company assembled and proceeded to the rendezvous at 
Jackson. It was organized as follows : 

Captain — Claudius B. Grant. 
First Lieutenant — Roswell P. Carpenter. 
Second Lieutenant — David E. Ainsworth. 
All of Ann Arbor. 

Sergeants. 

Orderly Sergeant — Oliver Blood, Dexter. 
Second Sergeant — R. D. Buchanan, Ann Arbor. 
Third Sergeant — George B. Felch, Ann Arbor. 
Fourth Sergeant — N. A. Parker, Ann Arbor. 
Fifth Sergeant — Charles W. Maynard, Ann Arbor. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — John Donovan. 
Second Corporal — William N. Steele. 



16 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Third Corporal — Joseph G. Price. 
Fourth Corporal — Eban H. Crofut. 
Fifth Corporal — Anselmo R. Morris. 
Sixth Corporal — John W. Johnston. 
Seventh Corporal — Norman D. Gates. 
Eighth Corporal — Abram Romig. 

Of the non-commissioned officers Sergeants Blood and Parker were pro- 
moted to first lieutenant and captain of Company D, and Sergeant Maynard to 
first lieutenant of Company C. 

COMPANY E. 

This company was raised at Parma and vicinity, mainly through the efforts of 
Francis Porter, who with a team, carrying a fifer and a drummer and a speaker, 
drove through the country, holding "war meetings" at the hamlets and cross- 
roads. 

The necessary number of men were recruited within the allotted time. 

The following were the commissioned officers : 

Captain — John Anderson, Parma. 

First Lieutenant — Francis Porter, Parma. 

Second Lieutenant — Albert P. Merrill. 

The latter was duly commissioned July 29, 1862, but never mustered. 

In January, 1863, James B. Goold, who had mustered with the company as 
orderly sergeant, was promoted to second lieutenant. 

The following were the original non-commissioned officers, as given in the 
official records : 

First Sergeant — James B. Goold. 
Second Sergeant — M. L. Bridenetine. 
Third Sergeant — Eben Howard. 
Fourth Sergeant — William A. Ross. 
Fifth Sergeant — 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — Theron E. Carpenter. 
Second Corporal — Darwin Farnam. 
Third Corporal — Frank A. Fassett. 
Fourth Corporal — Henry E. Hughson. 
Fifth Corporal — Charles C. Hungerford. 
Sixth Corporal — John Salisbury. 
Seventh Corporal — William H. Showers. 
Eighth Corporal — Jay C. Southworth. 



RECRUITING THE REGIMENT 17 



COMPANY F. 

About the 20th of July, 1862, Rev. Silas P. Warner, of Grass Lake, Jackson 
county, a minister of the M. E. church, was authorized to recruit a company 
for the Twentieth Michigan. He associated with himself, in raising the company, 
Joshua B. Leeland, of Northfield, as first lieutenant and Wesley L. Robinson, 
of Waterloo, as second lieutenant. 

The men of Company F came mostly from the above named localities, but 
a considerable number came from the adjoining towns of Washtenaw county, 
especially Sharon, Sylvan and Linden. The company went to the rendezvous on 
the — day of August, with the following named non-commissioned officers : 

First Sergeant — J. R. Mowry. 
Second Sergeant — Bryon R. Porter. 
Third Sergeant— F. H. Halbert. 
Fourth Sergeant — E. M. Adams. 
Fifth Sergeant — Wm. H. Warner. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — George Cook. 
Second Corporal — Albert B. Taylor. 
Third Corporal — Halsey B. Jenks. 
Fourth Corporal — Alexander Bush. 
Fifth Corporal — Calvin Becker. 
Sixth Corporal — Hiram B. High. 
Seventh Corporal — Brayton G. Webster. 
Eighth Corporal — Harland P. Gardner. 

Of these non-commissioned officers the following were afterward commis- 
sioned : Mowry, Porter, Adams, Taylor and Bush. 

COMPANY G. 

About June 15, 1862, Luke B. Willis, of Eaton Rapids, Eaton County, was 
commissioned by the Governor and authorized to recruit a company for the 
Seventeenth Michigan, then forming at Detroit. The call for the 300,000, July 1, 
hastened the completion of the 17th, before the company was ready. Eaton 
Rapids falling within the limits of the third congressional district, the company 
so authorized was assigned to the Twentieth Michigan. John S. Montgomery, 
of Eaton Rapids, assisted in recruiting around that point, and Peter Kauffman, 
of Gharlotte, recruited there. Willis was commissioned as captain; Montgomery 
as first lieutenant and Kauffman as second lieutenant. It is claimed, and prob- 
ably correctly, that this company was the first organized which visited the 
camp at Jackson ; but it was only a temporary visit, and the men again returned 
to their homes. About the beginning of the second week of August, they 
went to camp to remain. The non-commissioned officers of Company G were 
as follows : 



18 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



First Sergeant — Solomon Hollister. 
Second Sergeant — George Trusler. 
Third Sergeant — Nelson O. Merritt. 
Fourth Sergeant — John Graham. 
Fifth Sergeant — Ebenezer D. Speer. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — Leonard Allis. 
Second Corporal— Merton A. Bell. 
Third Corporal— William G. Campbell. 
Fourth Corporal — Levi M. Conley. 
Fifth Corporal — Henry F. Higgins. 
Sixth Corporal — George McGlocklin. 
Seventh Corporal — William Poynter. 
Eighth Corporal — Benjamin H. Skinner. 

COMPANY H. 

About the last day of July, 1862, Wendell D. Wiltsie, a graduate of the law 
school at Ann Arbor, and a resident there, received authority to recruit a com- 
pany for the Twentieth Michigan, and was commissioned captain. He was at 
the time printing a small local paper at Ypsilanti and operating a job printing 
office in connection therewith. With him was associated, Edward P. Pitkin 
of the class of 1859 of the* University of Michigan, who had received some 
military drill while in the university, commissioned first lieutenant, and Walter 
McCollum of Lodi, a graduate of the university in the class of 1861, and at 
the time of enlistment a member of the law department at Ann Arbor, who was 
commissioned second lieutenant. This company was entirely officered by uni- 
versity men. It was recruited chiefly at Ann Arbor and Lodi. Recruiting 
began August 8, and on August 18 the company went to camp with no men. 
This was one of the last companies to arrive, and the next day, August 19, 
the regiment was mustered, as a whole, into the United States service. The 
non-commissioned officers of this company, at organization, were as follows: 

Sergeants. 

Orderly Sergeant — Horace V. Knight. 
Second Sergeant — Frank Kingsley. 
Third Sergeant — Frank E. Lansing. 
Fourth Sergeant — Daniel Sheehan Jr. 
Fifth Sergeant — David C. Holmes. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — William Boston. 
Second Corporal — Ira G. Betts. 
Third Corporal — Abram C. Voorhees. 



RECRUITING THE REGIMENT 



iQ 



Fourth Corporal— James A. Dell. 
Fifth Corporal — Martin Comstock. 
Sixth Corporal — Peter J. Montgomery. 
Seventh Corporal — Cornelius Lyons. 
Eighth Corporal— Charles H. Wood. 
Musician — David J. Durand. 

COMPANY I. 

On July 22, 1862, George W. Bullis, then of Marshall, Calhoun county, was 
commissioned second lieutenant, and authorized to recruit a company for the 
Twentieth Michigan. His company, known as "The Marshall Company," after- 
ward became Company I. 

Lieutenant Bullis had been an attorney in the office of D. Darwin Hughes, 
and had no experience in military command. He interested with him in re- 
cruiting the company Mr. Charles C. Dodge, then foreman in the shops of 
the Michigan Central Railroad Company at Marshall, who had been connected 
with the local company, and Josiah T. Hammond, of Tekonsha, in the same 
county. 

When the company was recruited Lieutenant Bullis voluntarily yielded the 
place of captain to Charles C. Dodge, was himself commissioned first lieutenant, 
while J. T. Hammond was commissioned and mustered as second lieutenant.' 

The orderly sergeant of Company I was Clement A. Lounsberry, who enlisted 
at Marengo, August 9, 1862. He had seen service as a private in the old First 
Michigan Infantry (three months' regiment) had been wounded and taken 
prisoner at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. He was taken to Richmond 
as a prisoner with Colonel (). I', Willcox, of his own regiment, and was there 
able to gain the warm and lasting friendship of that officer. Sergeant Louns- 
berry rose through all the grades, until March n. 1865, he was commissioned 
colonel, and came home in command of the regiment, with the full rank of 
lieutenant Colonel, by muster into the Unites States service. He was the most 
notable case of rise from the ranks that occurred in the Twentieth Michigan. 
The other sergeants at the organization of the company were as follows : 

Second Sergeant— Orange F. Acker. 
Third Sergeant— Charles H. Mench. 
Fourth Sergeant— Nathan P. Parker. 
Fifth Sergeant— Charles B. Smith. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal— Andrew H. Cleveland. 
Second Corporal— Robert W. Davison. 
Third Corporal— Abram Hasbrook. 
Fourth Corporal — Peter Nover. 
Fifth Corporal— John W. Sammons. 
Sixth Corporal — Theodore C. Saulsbury. 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Seventh Corporal — John E. Smith. 
Eighth Corporal — Eugene E. Stone. 

COMPANY K. 

Near the end of July, 1862, a movement was started to raise a company for 
the Twentieth Michigan at Chelsea. Prominent in the movement were those 
who afterward became the officers and sergeants ; yet no one was especially pre- 
eminent. By united and zealous work the requisite number were enlisted, and 
about the middle of August they reported at the camp at Jackson, with the 
following officers and non-commissioned officers. 

Captain — Elijah Hammond, Chelsea. 

First Lieutenant — Silas L. Sergeai.t, Chelsea. 

Second Lieutenant — Clarence L. Whedon, Chelsea. 

Sergeants. 

First Sergeant — Joseph M. Yocum. 
Second Sergeant — Homer Spencer. 
Third Sergeant — Orin K. Bromnell. 
Fourth Sergeant— Roswell M. Knapp. 
Fifth Sergeant — James S. Spencer. 

Corporals. 

First Corporal — John LeBaron. 
Second Corporal — Oliver N. Allyn. 
Third Corporal — William Yocum. 
Fourth Corporal — Charles A. Wallace. 
Fifth Corporal— John W. Smith. 
Sixth Corporal — Forbes Spencer. 
Seventh. Corporal — Andrew F. Bott. 
Eighth Corporal — George H. Ewing. 

In this company the lists of sergeants and corporals on file in the Adjutant 
General's office are imperfect, and the deficiencies have been supplied from the 
best data that could be obtained from survivors of the company. This completes 
the data which we have been able to obtain as to the recruiting of the several 
companies, and will suffice to show the beginning of the regiment. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE RENDEZVOUS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. 

August 18, 1862. September 1, 1862. 

The Field and Staff — Original Line Officers. 

By the 18th of August, 1862, the ten companies assigned to the regiment had 
all reached the rendezvous at Jackson, and had settled down to camp life. 
On the next day, the 19th, the regiment as a whole was mustered into the 
service of the United States by Captain Meyer of the United States Regular 
Army. The camp of the regiment was on the "Marvin Farm - ' about half a mile 
outside the city of Jackson, on the Lansing road. 

The Honorable Fidus Livermore, of Jackson, had been appointed by Governor 
Blair as "Commandant of Camp" until the regimental officers should be ap- 
pointed, and the regiment organized and mustered into service. By the 19th 
of August everything was in readiness for muster. Clothing and arms had been 
issued, and when the regiment was for the first time drawn up in line, more 
than a thousand strong, it made, indeed, a striking and imposing appearance. 
From that day forward we were not a mere a n of companies, but the 

Twentieth Michigan Regiment, duly sworn into the service of the United 
States, for three years or the war. 

As we have already noticed the organization of the several companies, it will 
now be in order to give some account of the regimental officers who first com- 
manded and cared for it, and who went with it to the seat of war. 

Till- FIELD AND STAFF. 

At the muster into service of the Twentieth Michigan, it was commanded 
by Colonel Adolpuus \V. Williams, of Lansing. Colonel Williams entered the 
service April, 1861, as major of the Second Michigan Infantry, and was pro- 
moted to be lieutenant colonel of that regiment, March 6, 1862. 

He was slightly wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862, and 
was still on surgeon's leave of absence when the call came for the Twentieth 
Michigan ; and, as the territory from which the regiment was to be raised in- 
cluded Lansing, his place of residence, he was promoted to the colonelcy of the 
new regiment. He continued to command the regiment until about March 19, 
1863, when he was granted a leave of absence on account of ill health. He re- 
joined for a few days in the latter part of April following, at Lebanon, Ken- 
tucky; but his ill health continuing, he was placed upon detached duty at Louis- 
ville and Cincinnati. 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



He last visited the regiment, then under the command of Lieutenant Colonel 
W. Huntington Smith, at Columbia. Kentucky, about April 30, 1863. He was 
honorably discharged for disability, November 21, 1863. After the close of the 
war he received the brevet commission of brigadier general, "for gallant and 
meritorious service during the war." Colonel Williams died at La Canada, Cal., 
March 11, 1879, aged 49 years. 

It may be interesting to here record that Governor Blair first tendered the 
colonelcy of the Twentieth Michigan to Captain William H. Withington, after- 
ward colonel of the Seventeenth, and it was accepted by him ; and it is believed 
that the commission was actually made out. 

Colonel A. W. Williams was to have been colonel of the Seventeenth. Among 
the officers of the Seventeenth were a number who had served with Withington 
in the old first regiment (three months) and who desired Colonel Withington 
for their regiment. It was through their efforts that Colonel Withington was 
commissioned as colonel of the Seventeenth, and Colonel Williams as colonel 
of the Twentieth. 

W. H. Withington was mustered as captain of Company B, of the First 
Michigan Regiment, May 1, 1861, and served with distinction until he was cap- 
tured at the battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861. He was retained in rebel 
prison as a prisoner of war until January 30, 1862, when he was exchanged, and 
the next day was mustered out. He remained in civil life until in July, 1862, he 
was appointed colonel of the Twentieth Michigan. On August 11, following, 
he was mustered as colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment. He died at Jackson, 
Mich., June 27, 1903. 

The officer selected as the original lieutenant colonel of the regiment, was 
Russei.i. H. AlcoTT, of Manchester, Washtenaw county, ho was duly commis- 
sioned as such, but did not live to be mustered in. He entered the service 
August 17, 1861, as first lieutenant in the First (three years) Michigan Regi- 
ment; was promoted to captain, November 18, 1861, and commissioned Lieuten- 
ant Colonel, Twentieth Michigan, August 25, 1862. His commission was en- 
trusted to Colonel Williams to be delivered to him on arrival in Washington, 
but when the regiment reached the capital, Colonel Alcott had been killed 
in action at the battle of Bull Run (or Groveton) Va., on August 30, 1862. 
Unfortunately the name of this gallant officer does not appear in connection 
with the Twentieth Michigan in the record in "Michigan in the War."' By his 
death the regiment lost one who would have been an honor to the command. 

\V. HUNTINGTON Smith, of Adrian, but temporarily residing at Lansing as 
Deputy Auditor General of Michigan, was the first major of the regiment, and 
mustered as such, August 19, 1862, and went to the front in that capacity. He 
had originally recruited the Lansing company, which, being Colonel Williams' 
home company, was made Company A. 

By the death of Lieutenant Colonel Alcott, August 30, 1862, a vacancy was 
created in that grade, to which Major Smith was promoted, October 14, 1862,— 
that was the date of his commission, though he did not muster as such until 
after the regiment arrived at Falmouth, Va., opposite Fredericksburg, November 
19, 1862. He served as lieutenant colonel from his muster in until his death; 



RENDEZVOUS AND ORGANIZATION 23 



commanded the regiment, as acting colonel, from the time we reached Kentucky, 
March 26, 1863, until he was killed in action at Campbell's Station, Tennessee, 
November 16, 1863, except during a brief leave of absence after the regiment 
returned from the Vicksburg campaign. 

The first surgeon of the regiment was Dr. Simeon S. French, of Battle Creek, 
but he did not join the command until it reached Waterford, Va., the first 
week of November, 1862. Meanwhile the regiment was in the medical charge 
of the assistant surgeons. 

Dr. French had been appointed assistant surgeon of the Sixth Michigan In- 
fantry, August 19, 1861, and served with that regiment in the Department of 
the Gulf until his promotion to be surgeon of the Twentieth Michigan. Com- 
missioned on July 29, it was some some months before he reported to the regi- 
ment, as above stated. I 

He remained on duty with the regiment as surgeon until his resignation, 
July 21, 1864, except during the periods when he was serving as surgeon of 
the brigade. The assistant surgeon at the organization of the regiment was 
William H. Paine, of Eaton Rapids. During the period from the time when 
the regiment assembled at Jackson, about August 1, until the arrival of Surgeon 
French, about November 1, 1862, Dr. Paine acted as surgeon in charge of the 
regiment. 

He died on board the steamer Westmorland, on the trip up the Mississippi 
river, after the Vicksburg campaign, on August 5, 1863. 

Oramel L. Rider, of Norvell, was the second assistant surgeon, and he re- 
signed on account of ill health in May, 1863, and was honorably discharged. 

The first, last and only Chaplain of the regiment was Rev. Joseph Jones of 
Charlotte, Eaton county. He was commissioned August 30, 1862, just before the 
regiment started for the front, and resigned May 17, 1865, just before the muster 
out of the organization. 

The original adjutant was Hiram S. Warner, of Marshall. He had served as 
lieutenant and captain in the First Michigan Infantry both in the three months 
regiment and the three years organization. 

He resigned from that regiment January 16, 1862, and was commissioned first 
lieutenant and adjutant in the Twentieth Michigan, July 29, 1862. On the 
resignation of Quartermaster Dwight, February 24, 1863, he was commissioned 
as first lieutenant and quartermaster and served in that capacity until honorably 
discharged for disability, July 20, 1864. 

James A. Dwight, of Ypsilanti, was the first quartermaster. He was without 
previous military experience, and his place was a very difficult one for one in 
his situation. He resigned and was mustered out at Newport News, February 
5, 1863. 

This completes the sketch of the original "field and staff" officers under whom 
the regiment went to the field and served until it reached Fredericksburg, Vir- 
ginia. The original company officers have been given in connection with the 
organization of their respective companies. 

The records of these and all other officers of the regiment, as compiled from 
the official records in "Michigan in the War" and other sources, will be found 
in the appendix. 



CHAPTER III. 



GOING TO "THE FRONT"— THE MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. 

September I, 1862. September 24, 1862. 

The regiment having been armed, uniformed and mustered in, now expected 
to be ordered to the front. The days of waiting were occupied with drills and 
parades. This waiting was utilized to grant many, both officers and men, a 
furlough to go home and make final arrangements for leaving and take a last 
good by of friends. Many friends and relatives also visited the regiment in the 
camp, and the days were filled with work and excitement. At last the order came 
that the regiment should be ready to move to Washington on Monday, September 
1. The day came, and bright and early the camp was astir, but there were 
many last things to be attended to and it was near noon when at last the regi- 
ment in heavy marching order, with three days' rations, moved to the Michigan 
Central railroad station and filled the long trains to proceed to Detroit. The 
streets were packed with an eager and tumultuous crowd who cheered and 
shouted good-bye?, as we marched away from that scene to which so small a 
part of those brave young fellows were ever to return. 

Of course all knew that many would never come back, but each hoped to 
be among the fortunate ones, and youth and hope and enthusiasm buoyed them 
up and sent them out to war with apparently light hearts and cheerful courage. 

It was past the middle of the afternoon when we rolled into the Michigan 
Central depot in Detroit, and before embarking on the steamer for Cleveland, 
we were formed and marched several miles through some of the principal 
streets of the city, where again the regiment was cheered and bid Godspeed 
by all classes and conditions of men. 

That evening the regiment went on board the Cleveland boat, and sometime 
about 10 o'clock, swung off from the Michigan shore and sailed down the 
broad Detroit river, and out into Lake Erie. 

Soon after daybreak of September 2, we came in sight of Cleveland, and in 
the course of the morning had disembarked and were transferred to the waiting 
trains on the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad. All that day, as we sped along 
across the state of Ohio, we were cheered on our way, and at night reached 
Pittsburg, where the regiment was conducted to a great dining hall where we 
were given an excellent supper and a most cordial welcome by the patriotic and 
generous-hearted citizens of Pittsburg. 

That evening we started over the mountains, the trains being made up in 
several sections. That night and the next day passed without any notable inci- 
dent, and toward evening of the 3rd, we reached Baltimore, where we had to 



MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 



march across the city, from the Pennsylvania station to the Baltimore & Ohio 
depot. 

We found that the latter had just been burned, with a great quantity of stores 
and material which it contained. The ruins were still smoking, and guards 
were posted all around to protect the property which had not been consumed. 
Everything was in confusion; no cars were in readiness to take us to the 
capital, and so most of the men spread their blankets along the sidewalks and 
lay down upon the brick pavements for their first night's sleep in Dixie. 

Some time in the night the men were loaded into cattle cars — not at all 
too clean or sweet, — and the morning found us on our way to Washington, and 
the road blocked in front with a great congestion of trains, all bound for the 
same destination. At that time there was only one single track road connecting 
Baltimore and Washington, instead of two commodious double track roads, 
as now. Many of the men, who could not endure being crowded into the foul 
cattle cars, had climbed upon the roofs of the cars where they could at least 
enjoy the free air of heaven and see the country. This day was not without 
incident. Beyond the Relay House we were delayed for a long time. On the 
train just ahead of us were some companies of zouaves from Philadelphia. 
They were a lawless lot of hoodlums and committed some acts of vandalism. 
A barn was set on fire and burned, and the rights of property were not re- 
spected as they ought to have been. They evidently thought they were in the 
"enemy's country." 

It was late in the afternoon of September 4, 1862, when the great, unfinished 
dome of the national capitol loomed into view, and the boys from one end of 
the train to the other gave it a lusty cheer. Our trains came to a stop at the 
Baltimore & Ohio depot, just north of and almost in the shadow of the capitol. 

The arrival of a new regiment was at this time too common an event to 
attract much attention. But we were cordially received and conducted to a long, 
low. one-story building near by, called "The Soldiers Rest," and here we were 
provided with a bountiful meal of boiled beef, soft bread, and black coffee; but 
a good appetite supplied the lack of delicate viands, and the regiment enjoyed 
the feast. Then we were marched past the capitol and up Pennsylvania avenue to 
Seventh street, and thence by Virginia avenue to Long Bridge, across the Potomac 
river, and to the sacred soil of Virginia, on the Arlington estate back of the range 
of hills on which stands the Arlington House, the former home of the Lee 
family. 

The sun was near its setting when we crossed Long Bridge, and as we did so 
we met a regiment of cavalry just in from the front, and now moving over to the 
camp on the Maryland side, as General Lee was expected to soon attempt the 
crossing of the Potomac. 

These troops were a tough looking lot. dusty, dirty and bronzed with ex- 
posure. They were just out of a most arduous and trying campaign, in which 
they had been severely handled. They appeared to be somewhat demoralized. 
They were covered so thickly with the dust of the march that it would have 
been impossible to tell the original color of men or uniforms. Our uniforms, 
on the other hand, were quite new and clean, a fact which they quickly recog- 



2 6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



nized and interpreted. They buried us deep in clouds of dust, and as they did so 
greeted us with jests and jibes. Our men had very large and full knapsacks. 
These, we heard for the first time, called "Government Bureaus." They cautioned 
us that Stonewall Jackson would get those "bureaus." They all seemed to have 
"Stonewall Jackson on the brain," and with good reason. Following a road that 
passed close under the walls of "Fort Runyon" and wound around and over 
Arlington Hill, in a valley looking to the west and south, about half or three- 
fourths of a mile from what is now Arlington National Cemetery, we found 
our first camping place on the "sacred soil" of Virginia. 

Here we were, for the first time, literally "in the field." We bivouacked that 
night with only the canopy of heaven above us and the not too soft bosom 
of Mother Earth beneath us. 

Bright and early the next morning the bugle sounded the reveille, and the 
men were roused from their slumbers in their roomy sleeping quarters, and 
having made their toilets at a small brook that flowed down through the little 
valley, we had breakfast— the remnant of our cooked rations, if we were for- 
tunate enough to have any, — and then fell into line. 

We were ordered to stack our arms and pile knapsacks and march with 
blankets only. The officers of the regiment were informed privately that we were 
to march out to the battle field of Bull Run as a fatigue party, to bury the dead 
of the battles of August 29 and 30, as yet unburied, but for some reason the 
order was fortunately countermanded, for which we were most devoutly thank- 
ful, and instead, we were started toward Alexandria, with all our "traps." 

We had neither tents nor wagons, commissary nor quartermasters supplies. 
On the road to Alexandria we met more troops moving toward Washington,— 
artillery, cavalry and infantry— an endless procession, and we received the full 
benefit of the endless clouds of dust they raised. 

The march was very trying upon our men, not accustomed to such experiences, 
and when Alexandria was reached a great rush was made for the bakeries and 
other places where food could be had, as the most of the men had had little or 
no breakfast. 

The command halted for an hour in the southern outskirts of the city, while 
the colonel and quartermaster skirmished around the city for something to serve 
the purpose of rations. After a while two wagon loads of baker's bread were 
brought out and served to nearly a thousand men. Without meat or butter it 
was a pretty dry ration, but better than none. 

We crossed a wide arm of the Potomac which comes in just south of Alex- 
andria, and passed up into a little hollow at the western foot of the hill on which 
stood— and perhaps still stands— Fort Lyon, and there we made our camp as 
best we could. 

There was a small cluster of houses near by, but no other troops were nearer- 
than the fort. Here, without tents or shelter, or regular commissary, the men 
suffered greatly. They had not yet learned how to make the best of things. 
A good many got sick here from exposure and improper diet, and were left 
behind, and some never again rejoined. This was the famous "Cow Hollow." 
so celebrated in the annals of the regiment from the attack made upon a cow 



MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 



which, one night innocently strayed into the camp. It was after dark when 
the fusilade began, and General Joe Hooker, who was in command on that part 
of the line, supposed that the rebels were making a dash to turn his left. The 
long roll beat, the troops around Fort Lyons stood to arms, and General 
Hooker sent an aide to ascertain the cause of the firing, and when he learned it, 
it is said that the air around headquarters was pretty blue for a long time 
afterward. 

We arrived at Fort Lyon on September 5th and on the 6th the first order was 
issued from headquarters affecting this regiment. 

The order was as follows : 

Headquarters, Washington, September 6, 1862. 

Special Orders No. 3. 

The following mentioned new regiments are distributed as hereinafter indicated 

and will proceed forthwith to join their respecive corps and stations, viz.: 
************** 

Seventeenth Michigan. 
Twentieth Michigan. 

Burnside's Corps at *Leesborough, 6 miles out of Seventh street. 
By command of Major-General McClellan. 

S. WILLIAMS. Assistant Adjutant General. 

This the is the first mention of the Twentieth Michigan found in the official 
record of the War of the Rebellion. 

It may be found in Vol. XIX, part _>, page 197. 

On September 8, 1862, we left Fort Lyon and "Cow Hollow" behind us, 
under orders to proceed to Washington arsenal to draw and issue ammunition. 
We had marched through Alexandria and perhaps two miles beyond, when we 
were halted and countermarched to the city, to the steamboat dock on the 
Potomac, where we took a steamer which landed us in Wasnington not far 
from the barrack-, near the foot of Seventh -treet. 

At the- arsenal, or barracks, we found the Seventeenth Michigan and the 
Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, the latter like ourselves a new regiment which ar- 
rived in Washington on the same day that we did. 

We bivouacked that night in the arsenal grounds. 

Most of the survivors of the regiment will recall to mind the trip up the 
Potomac from Alexandria, and the smart sutler who had "champaign cider" 
to sell and who did not want to take "Yankee money," and was loaded up with 
"Michigan money" to his heart's content. 

On the ninth of September the Seventeenth Michigan was supplied with 
ammunition and started in pursuance to orders to join the Ninth Army Corps 
near Leesboro, Maryland, (they actually joined the tenth). 

The Thirty-sixth Massachusetts came next, and they, too, were supplied and 

♦Leesboro. 



28 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN i.\"FANTRY 

marched away on the ninth before night set in. It was during this day that our 
regiment lost its first man. While we lay in the arsenal ground a shot was fired 
from a neighboring corn field which killed William II. Dixon, a member of 
Company A. This was the first death in the regiment. Pursuit was made but 
the assassin escaped, though his horse was captured, and was used by Lieutenant 
Colonel W. Huntington Smith as long as he lived. 

It was after dark on the ninth of September (Tuesday) when it came the turn 
of the Twentieth to receive its ammunition, and it was late that night when we 
took up our line of march to overtake the the army then advancing through 
Maryland, to meet General Lee who was marching on Frederick. 

It was after midnight, and a dark night, when we marched out Seventh street, 
and, leaving the silent city behind, passed through the encircling line of forts 
and so out into the country to the northward of Washington, and passing through 
the hamlet of Leesboro at some time after sunrise, we camped some two or 
three miles beyond on a farm belonging to a man by the name of Dodge, from 
which circumstance it was usually known a- "Camp 1 )< 

The regiment was still without tents ,>r wagons. Many of the men were 
without overcoats, and, because of the lack of wagons, without adequate or 
proper rations. 

Colonel Williams was going hack and forth to Washington every day endeavor- 
ing to secure wagons and tents, but with only partial success. 

The trouble was that we weir attached to no large bodv of troops, although 
assigned to the first division. Ninth Army Corps, and, therefore, there was no 
staff department to look after our wants. 

Quartermaster Dwighl was wholly unequal to the occasion. Looking back 
now to those first weeks in the field, it seems a wonder that all the men did not 
get sick and that more did not die. After a few days Colon,-] Williams secured 
a partial supply of "A' - tents, which we had to leave behind when we moved 
forward from there. 

The regiment remained at this camp from September io.t,, September [8, 
when we received imperative orders to move forward and join the division then 
near Sharpsbur<j. on the Antietam battle ground. Although we had hern as-juried 
to General O. B. Willcox's division of the ninth corps, on the sixth, most of us 
did not know it until some time afterward. 

While here at Camp Dodge or "Camp Starvation." a*s it was also called by 
the soldiers, we employed the time in drilling, and really made good and valu- 
able use of the time. 

It was while we waited here that the great battles of South Mountain and 
Antietam (or Sharpsburg) were fought, in which our division took conspicuous 
and bloody part. We could distinctly hear the guns of both these battles, at 
South Mountain on the fourteenth and at Antietam on the seventeenth, and 
knew that our comrades of the Seventeenth Michigan were engaged. In fact we 
afterward learned that they greatly distinguished themselves and gained the 
title of the "Stonewall Regiment." 

Had we drawn our ammunition on the eighth, as they did. we would have been 



MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 29 



in these battles also, but fate, or Providence, preserved us then that we might 
render better service in the next two years. 

Before the close of the war we had all the fighting we wanted, and had no 
reason to regret that we did not share the bloody baptism of our comrades of 
the Seventeenth at South Mountain. 

On Thursday morning, the eighteenth of September we broke up our camp at 
the Dodge farm and took up our line of march for Sharpsburg. 

We were an independent command in the field, and our colonel decided our 
line of march, selecting the camping grounds and the hour for starting in the 
morning. Our route took us via Rockville, Middlebrook, New Market and 
Monocacy Bridge. 

On the evening of Saturday, the twentieth, we entered and passed through 
the city of Frederick, which only a tew days before had been occupied by Gen- 
eral Lee's army. We bivouacked that night about two miles west of the city, 
on the road toward Middletown, and there, in the midst of green fields, we spent 
Sunday, the twenty-first, as a day of rest. During the day we received rations. 
In good season on the morning of Monday, the twenty-second, we were on 
the road, and that afternoon passed through the pleasant village of Middletown 
and encamped that night at the eastern foot of South Mountain, and on the 
- of tin' battle field of September fourteenth. 
We -aw many recent graves beside the road and along the mountain side, 
and everywhere were the signs and the stains of battle. 

At Middletown the churches and all other available buildings were converted 
into hospitals. We crossed the mountains before noon of the twenty-third 
and passed through Boonsboro, where the cavalry had an engagement a few 
day- before, descended the western slope of South Mountain to the village of 
dysville, which was one continuous hospital, and crossing the Antietam river 
or creek at the middle stone bridge, by the middle of the afternoon we passed 
across a portion of the battle field and entered the village of Sharpsburg. 

On tin- hills on the east side of Antietam Creek, where there was a wide 
outlook over the country to the west, we passed the headquarters of General 
George I'.. McClellan, commanding the army, and the corps of General Fitz 
John Porter, which had been held in n 1 the day of the battle. The prin- 

cipal part of the battle had raged in the open country to the northward of 
Sharpsburg, the Confederate line extending from Antietam Creek on their 
right to the Potomac river on their left, above Sharpsburg and in the direction 
of Williamsport ; but the attack of the ninth corp.s had been made across the 
lower stone bridge, south and east of the village (and in the rear of the Con- 
federate right), afterward known a- the "Burnside Bridge." 

General Lee's artillery had been posted— especially the heavy batteries— on the 
hills encircling Sharpsburg. and commanded the approaches from the east side 
of the bridge. 

General Wilcox was at the time in command of the division, Burnside being 
in command of the corps. 

This was our division, to which we had been assigned since the sixth, and but 



3 o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

for the delay at the Washington arsenal we would have been in the thick of 
this fight. We did not pass over that part of the field where our division 
fought, but after waiting two or three hours in the north part of the village, 
the colonel ascertained where our division was located along the banks of the 
Potomac river, about two miles south and west from the village of Sharpsburg r 
and just at evening of the twenty-third of September, 1862, we bivouacked in a 
fine oak grove, in touch with the brigade to which we had been assigned. 

The next day, September twenty-fourth, we reported to division headquarters 
and were attached to the first brigade. The brigade was commanded by Colonel 
Benjamin C. Christ of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, and consisted of the follow- 
ing regiments, viz. : Fiftieth Pennsylvania. Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, Sev- 
enteenth Michigan and Seventy-ninth New York. To these was added the 
Twentieth Michigan, and here our solitary wanderings ended. Incorporated 
into our proper division and brigade, we became an integral part of the Army 
of the Potomac. 

Hitherto it had been our fortune to hang upon the skirts of the army rather 
than to be a part of it. Henceforth we were to be a part of the fighting force 
rather than to follow in the trail of war, seeing much of its horrors and hard- 
ships, without participating in its glories. So endeth this chapter. 

In the appendix will be found the official "itinerary" of the division from the 
time when it crossed Long Bridge, September fourth, the same night when 
we reached Washington, until the end of October. (See Appendix.) 



CHAPTER IV. 

ON THE POTOMAC— FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN'. 
September 24. 1862. November 19, 1862. 

Having been adopted into the family of the Army of the Potomac and incor- 
porated into our proper corps, division and brigade, our history will hence- 
forth be involved with that of the greater bodies of troops, from which it may 
be well nigh impossible to separate it. Frequently in order to understand the 
part taken by this regiment it will be necessary to give some part of the opera- 
tions of not only our own brigade, but also at times of the division and corps, 
and to some extent of the army. 

Nevertheless, it is not the purpose to make this a history of any body except 
the Twentieth Michigan Regiment. 

There are plenty of standard histories of the War of the Rebellion which de- 
scribes the various campaigns and battles in which we took part, in the most 
graphic and interesting manner, and to them we refer all who desire a history of 
those campaigns. 

This story of the Twentieth Michigan will be written upon the assumption 
that the reader is reasonably familiar with those larger histories, and will be 
able to place our own brigade and regiment in its proper relation to the greater 
movements. 

Occasionally it may be imperative to depart from this general principle, but 
it will be done only when it seems unavoidable. 

With this explanation the thread of the story is resumed. 

When the regiment reported to General O. B. Willcox, commanding the first 
division, on Wednesday, the twenty-fourth day of September, 1862, the ninth 
corps was encamped along the Potomoc river south of the village of Sharps- 
burg, between that place and the mouth of Antietam creek. The fifth corps 
(Fitz John Porter's) was camped on the hills east of the Antietam. and the 
rest of the army was spread out along the river from Shepardstown above to 
Knox vi lie below Harper's Ferry. 

General Lee with the army of Northern Virginia had been permitted by 
General McClellan to retire unmolested across the fords of the Potomac and 
to take possession of Harper's Ferry and Bolivar Heights. back of that town, 
while the main body of his army was encamped at and near Halltown. The' 
rebel pickets were posted along the south bank of the Potomac to observe and 
report any movement of the Union army, although hostile demonstrations were 
not frequent. We remained at the point where we joined the division only 



32 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



two days, and, being without tents, many of the men built themselves shelters 
with brush and cornstalks from a field close by. 

From this fact this camp was often called the "Cornstalk Camp." 

On the 26th of September the division moved further south across the Antie- 
tam Creek and took post near the old Antietam Iron Works. It was here that 
the regiment performed its first picket duty in the presence of the enemy. 

It was a twenty-four hours' tour, and our brigade line was posted along the 
dry bed of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, which ran along the north side 
of and parallel with the river. This was about the pleasantest picket duty 
we ever performed. There was no difficulty in having fires along the bed of the 
canal, and a house on the bank furnished pleasant headquarters. Now and then 
we could see the Confederate pickets on the opposite side, but no shots were 
exchanged. The scenery here was most picturesque. 

.Maryland Heights rose on our left, a few miles away; Elk Ridge formed a 
wall to the valley of the Antietam on the east. 

While at this camp on September 27 a number of wagons came up from 
the rear bringing our regimental baggage, the medical stores and camp equi- 
page, and officers' baggage, which had been. left behind at Washington, Leesboro 
and Frederick. 

Here, also, for the first time we received shelter tents, and some blankets 
and overcoats were issued to the men, so that from this time on we were 
properly equipped for taking the field; but much harm had been already done 
by the exposure and lack of proper shelter and rations, and many went to 
hospital who never returned to the regiment. The cost of their enlistment and 
transportation was worse than a dead loss to the government, for in many cases 
the men were permanently disabled and some of them have been drawing pen- 
sions ever since. 

On October 1 President Lincoln came to visit the army and confer with 
General McClellan on plans for the future. There is no doubt now that the 
President was greatly dissatisfied with the failure of General McClellan to 
follow up his advantage after the battle of Antietam, and to sttack Lee as he was 
recrossing the river. The President came in order to see for himself the con- 
dition of the army, and to be the better able to remedy any deficiencies in men 
or equipments that might exist. 

On the 3d day of October the President reviewed the army, and after we had 
stood in line and waited patiently for several hours, we saw him as he rode 
along our line accompanied by General McClellan and his large and brilliant 
staff. 

It is useless as it is needless to attempt to describe Abraham Lincoln. No 
figure in American history is more familiar to this generation. His long, lank 
figure, his homely face and awkward manner were not improved by his being 
mounted upon horseback. He rode a spirited and handsome dark charger, in 
height altogether disproportioned to President Lincoln's length of leg. 

At times it seemed almost as if his feet were in danger of coming in contact 
with the ground. He wore a long black frock coat and a tall silk hat, much the 
worse for wear. When he came in front of the colors he raised himself in the 



FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 33 

stirrups and lifted his hat to salute the flag, and if the occasion had not been so 
serious, and the man so really great, and his face so sad and earnest, the sight 
would have bordered on the ludicrous. 

On October 7 the division broke camp and marched over Elk Ridge into 
Pleasant Valley on the east side, and not very far from Sandy Hook and Har- 
per's Ferry. Elk Ridge is an outlying spur of South Mountain, which terminates 
in Maryland Heights opposite to Harper's Ferry. 

In Pleasant Valley the division encamped along the eastern base of the moun- 
tains with plenty of excellent water from abundant springs, and surrounded 
by scenery that could not well be surpassed. 

Here the regiment remained one week. On the night of October 14, while a 
large part of the regiment was on picket, orders came to strike camp and pro- 
ceed by a forced march to Nolan's (or Noland's) Ford, about five miles below 
Point of Rocks. It proved that General J. E. B. Stuart with a division of rebel 
cavalry was making a raid around McClellan's army, capturing and destroying 
trains, taking prisoners and causing much anxiety and commotion. 

He was supposed to be making for the fords of the Potomac near Point of 
Rocks, and hence our hasty departure for that place. 

It was about sunrise on the 15th when, after an exceedingly fatiguing march, 
we reached Point of Rocks, where we halted for breakfast. After an hour's rest 
we continued the march as rapidly as possible, but without wagons or baggage, 
reaching Nolan's Ford early in the forenoon, only to find that Stuart had de- 
flected his line of march to White's Ferry, five miles below, and had already 
escaped into Virginia. 

But here at Nolan's Ford (or Ferry) — also known as "camp near Licksville" — 
we found a pleasant and attractive camp in a fine grove, and here, engaged in 
drill and some scouting, we remained until October 29,— the longest stay we 
had made in one place since leaving Jackson. 

Meanwhile the entire army had crossed or was crossing the Potomac and 
preparing for a general advance against the Confederate army. 

The other brigades of our division remained at Pleasant Valley until October 
26, when they crossed the Potomac on the pontoon bridge at Berlin, reaching 
Lovettsville, Va., the same day, and remaining there until the 29th, when they 
moved to Waterford, Va. 

Meanwhile, our brigade (the First) moved on the morning of October 29 
to Point of Rocks, where brigade headquarters were located, and about noon 
forded the Potomac at Heedle's Ford, about a mile below Point of Rocks. 

The river here is broad and shallow ; the bottom being very rocky. The 
water was up to the hips of a tall man, and the waist of a short one. In 
places the current was strong and the bottom slippery. The men stripped up 
to the waist and with their loads high up on the shoulders, by taking hold of 
hands they got safely across without serious accident. The spectacle was a 
most comic one and the men made a virtue of necessity and treated it as a 
sort of "lark." 

Once across the Potomac, we advanced rapidly, and the same night reached 
Waterford, Va., where we found the other brigades of the division and the whole 
3 



34 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



corps not far away. Here for the first time we were "mustered for pay" and 
in order to make out the pay rolls a three days' halt was made. Here, too, 
our surgeon, Dr. S. S. French, first joined the command. 

Surgeon French came to us from the Department of the Gulf, where he had 
been assistant surgeon of the Sixth Michigan Infantry. Dr. French proved 
himself a must valuable medical officer, giving close and careful attention to 
tin- health and welfare of the men. lie became very popular with the whole 
regiment, and continued with it until July. 1864, when impaired health rendered 
his resignation imperative. 

Waterford we found to be a small hamlet of a few hundred people, mostly 
belonging to the seel of "Dunkards." The division remained at Waterford until 
November _>. when the general advance on Richmond commenced. The main 
body of the army of the Potomac moved on roads to the west of us. keeping 
near to the foot of the Blue Ridge, and occupying the gaps in the ridge suc- 
cessively. The cavalry under General Alfred Pleasanton led the advance. 

General Burnside with the Ninth corps moved up the valley of Virginia, keep- 
in- nearer to the Hull Run Mountains, and on November 7 we arrived at 
Rectortown on th - Manassas Gap railr< 

On that night came the order relieving General McClellan of the command of 
the Army of the Potomac and placing General Burnside in chief command. 

That night the Twentieth Michigan was encamped upon the top- of an ex- 
1 and wind-swept hill overlooking the Manassas Gap railroad, and from 
that position we could see colored signal rocket- sent up from army headquarters, 
but of course had no mean- of guessing their significance; but it was evident 
that some unusual event was transpiring. On November General McClellan 
turned over the command to General Burnside and took his final leave of the 
Army of the Potomac. 

It is not within the scope of this story, nor would it be of any value to its 
readers, to here discuss the causes or the consequences of this change. The 
country and the leader- of the two houses of congress were impatient of the 
long delay of General .McClellan in moving, after the successful battle of Antie- 
tam (or Sharpsburg), and it was felt, both in Washington and in the country, 
that the fruits of victory had not been gathered as they might and should have 
been. The visit of the President to the headquarters of General McClellan on 
October 1 undoubtedly had for its object the -purring of the general to prompt 
and rapid action. 

General McClellan still remaining passive, on October 13 President Lincoln 
addressed to him a personal letter, in which he urged him to commence opera- 
tions at once. 

But General McClellan evidently did not intend to move until he was "good 
and ready." The President tried to impress him that time was of the very 
essence of the situation, but in vain. General McClellan was not of the Presi- 
dent's political party, and the congressional elections, which occurred on Nov- 
ember 3. had gone against the administration and the President, and it was felt 
that General McClellan's long delay and the absence of decisive results had 
been in great part the cause of the defeat of the administration. The pressure 



FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 35 



upon the President by such senator- as Chandler of .Michigan. Wade of Ohio, 
and others of similar opinions, now became so great that on November 5 the 
order for the removal of General McClellan was issued, and forwarded by the 
hand of General Buckingham, who proceeded at once to the headquarters of 
General Burnside at Orleans, where the order was delivered to General Burn- 
side on the evening of the 7- General Burnside accompanied by General Buck- 
ingham proceeded the same night to the headquarters of General McClellan at 
Rectortown, where, after a conference, it was agreed that McClellan should re- 
tain command until the army should reach Warrenton. This occupied until the 
9th, when Burnside issued his order assuming the command. 

On that date the First, Second and Fifth Corps were at Warrenton. the Sixth 
at New Baltimore, and the Ninth at and near Waterloo Bridge, on both sides 
of the north fork of the Rappahannock. 

While we were at this camp the first -now of the season fell, and we were 
admonished that it was getting late for campaigning. 

Jt was lure, too, that the .Michigan regiments of the brigade were pari 
and their knapsacks searched for Michigan -Wildcat" money. 

On assuming command General Burnside organized the army into three grand 
divisions, right, left and center, and placed the three senior major generals in 
command of these grand divisions. 

Sumner commanded the right, Franklin the left and Hooker the center. This 
promoted General O. B. Willcox to the command of the corps, and General W. 
W. Burns, who had formerly been in command of the third brigade of g 
wick'- (Second) division of the Second Corps, was issigned to the command of 
our division. 

II. remained in command of the division until after the battle of Frederii 
burg, when General Willcox resumed the division and General Burns disapp* 
fro in ,,ur horizon. We saw very little of him in the brief period thai he wa- 
in command, and few of the men would ha nized him had they met him. 

From the nth to the 14th of November General Burnside was concentrat- 
ing his army in the direction of Warrenton. the Ninth Corps guarding the 
ford- ;m d crossings of the upper Rappahannock. Early on the morning of the 
15th the general movement of the army began, toward Fredericksburg. 

1 firsl division moved from near Waterloo bridge to White Sulphur Springs 
(also know,, as Fauquier Springs), where we first came in contact with the 
enem y- J"S1 as we reached the Springs, about the middle of the forenoon, 
the enemy opened upon our trains from a battery on the south side of the 
river, and something of an artillery duel ensued. The division was formed in 
Ime '" t,u ' n ~ Iu of the Springs covering the fords and remained in position 
until all the rest of the corps with their trams had passed on toward Bealton 
Station. 

We held that position until late in the evening, when, leaving the ford to be 
guarded by the cavalry, we made a nighl march, over a very rough road, arriv- 
ing ai Bealton on the Orange ami Alexandria railroad long after midnight. Here 
we found the entire corps concentrated. 

On the 15th of November 'the Second Michigan Infantry, under Colonel 



3 6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



O. M. Poe (who had been appointed brigadier general, but who was never con- 
firmed as such), joined us at Sulphur Springs, and was assigned to our brigade, 
and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania with Colonel Christ was transferred to the second 
brigade. The first brigade, under command of Colonel Poe, now consisted of 
the following regiments : 

Second Michigan — Lieutenant Colonel Louis Dillman. 
Seventeenth Michigan — Colonel W. H. Withington. 
Twentieth Michigan — Colonel A. W. Williams. 
Seventy-ninth New York — Lieutenant Colonel David Morrison. 

This continued to be the organization of the brigade until after the Kentucky 
campaign of 1863, with only slight and temporary exceptions. 

On the 16th of November the division marched from Bealton, following a 
road nearly parallel with the Rappahannock, and on the evening of the 19th 
passed through the ancient village of Falmouth, two miles above Fredericks- 
burg, ascended the high plateau opposite that city and after dark went into 
camp on one of General McDowell's old camping grounds, which had been 
occupied in the early part of the summer, while McClellan's army was in front 
of Richmond. 

It began to rain during the night and continued to rain the next morn- 
ing, until the camp was one continuous mudhole. Our camp was about a mile 
back from the river, and in view of the city of Fredericksburg. 

It should have been before noted that the Eighth Michigan was assigned to 
the first brigade on September 16th, but the regiments of the brigade did not 
come together until we arrived at Waterford, Va., October 29. Colonel William 
M. Fenton of the Eighth then became brigade commander, and continued so 
until November 15, when the Second Michigan with Colonel O. M. Poe joined, 
when the Eighth was transferred once more to the Second Brigade, which was 
commanded by Colonel B. C. Christ. Colonel William M. Fenton of the Eighth 
was absent much of the time. Having now reached a halting place at which we 
were destined to remain for just three months, it is a good point at which to 
pause in our story. 

This ends the first epoch of our actual campaigning with the Army of the 
Potomac. Thus far we had done all our fighting with our legs, rather than with 
our arms. Already our numbers were greatly diminished. The hospitals at 
Washington, Weverton (near Harper's Ferry) and other points contained a 
considerable number of those who left Michigan brave and stalwart young 
fellows. 

But of all the camps which the Twentieth Michigan ever occupied no other 
is connected with so many sad and depressing memories as the camp in front of 
Fredericksburg. 



CHAPTER V. 



FREDERICKSBURG. 

November 19, 1862. December 15, 1862. 

No man ever feels that he is really a soldier until he has seen and participated 
in at least one battle. He may drill ever so much, he may march over weary 
leagues of mountains and valleys, he may ford rivers and stand on picket many 
a day and night, still he does not feel that he is a real soldier until he has 
faced deadly danger and heard the whistle of bullets, and found that his legs do 
not run away with his heart. 

Thus far our soldiering had been of the first kind. We had marched without 
wagons, slept without tents, and subsisted without regular rations. Many had 
suffered in hospitals and too many had laid them down in their last, long sleep, 
far from home and kindred and native state. 

Yet we had not been through the crucial test. But we had not long to 

wait. 

It was said at the conclusion of the last chapter, it was the evening of Nov- 
ember 19, 1862, when our regiment, weary and foot-sore, "dragged its slow 
length along" up the hill from Falmouth, and halted upon the plateau, opposite 
the city of Fredericksburg, which had been occupied by General McDowell's 
army during the preceding summer. It was no fit place for the troops. The 
soil was thoroughly saturated with the filth of an old army camp; the site was 
flat, clayey and muddy from the recent rains. 

By the next morning we were pretty nearly afloat, and a disconsolate regiment 
of men was wading around in the steadily descending rain and through the 
ever deepening mud. 

The sick list was steadily and rapidly growing, and hospital accommodations 
were far from all that could be desired. 

Through the efforts of the regimental and brigade commanders, stimulated 
by the surgeons, after a few days the camp of the entire brigade was moved 
back about half a mile, beyond the crest of the Stafford hills, and a new camp 
was made upon the east side of the Aquia Creek road, upon fresh and un- 
tainted ground, the place of the Twentieth falling in a small growth of pine 
woods. Here for some days the men were occupied in clearing the ground, and 
in building up small huts over which they stretched their tents as a roof. 

The brigade was now and until about the 3d of March under the command 
of Colonel (or, as .he was then styled. General) O. M. Poe. 

The original commander of the Second Michigan was Colonel Israel B. Rich- 
ardson. He was a graduate of the U. S. Military Academy in the class of 1841, 



38 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN IXFAXTRY 

had served through the .Mexican war with distinction, had been repeatedly 
breveted for gallantry, and resigned from the regular army as captain and brevet 
major in 1855. He remained in civil life until April, 1861, when he was made 
colonel of the Second .Michigan Infantry, with which ho went to the front. He 
commanded a brigade in the first Bull Run battle. He was promoted to be 
brigadier general in September, [861, and raised to rank of major general to 
date from July 4, 1862, and while in command of a division was mortally 
wounded at the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862. When Colonel Rich- 
ardson was promoted to brigadier general, in September, 1861, O. M. Poe was 
a first lieutenant of 17. S. Topographical F.ngineers. He had graduated from 
West Point Military Academy in iS=5 and had remained in active service until 
the beginning of the war. General Poe was appointed to the academy from 
Ohio. He was a thorough soldier, of splendid physique, tall, commanding and 
soldierly in appearance. He was a strict disciplinarian, and made his influence 
felt upon his command. But his nomination as brigadier general was not con- 
firmed by the senate, and, being a "recess appointment," it expired on March 4, 
1863. On March 3 he was made captain U. S. Engineers, and having previously 
resigned as colonel of the Second Michigan, February 16. [863, fell hack upon 
his commission in the regular army, and served in Ins regular rank until the 
end of the war, principally upon tin- staffs of Generals Burnside and Sherman. 
He went with the latter on the Atlanta campaign, then on the "march to the sea," 
and thence to the final surrender of General Joe Johnston's army. He was 
successively breveted major, lieutenant colonel, colonel and brigadier general 
in the regular army, for gallant and meritorious services. Politics and 
politicians stood in the way of his advancement. Had he been confirmed 
brigadier general, there can be no doubt that lie would have risen to 
high rank and command before the end of the war. In him the volunteer 
service lost a most accomplished officer, a gallant soldier and a scholarly gentle- 
man. The great ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie is his lasting monument. 

But to return to the camp at Fredericksburg — Burnside was waiting for his 
pontoons, to enable him to cross the Rappahannock, hut meanwhile General Lee 
had been able to concentrate his entire army upon the heights back of that 
city, and in front of the fords, above and below. 

All remained quiet from the 20th of November until the nth of December. 

During this period a large detail from the regiment under command of the 
lieutenant colonel or major went on picket duty about once in a week. The 
picket line of our brigade extended from the railroad bridge across the Rappa- 
hannock, opposite the town on the right, to a point below the city upon the 
"Washington farm'' on the left. 

Opposite our line was the city gas works, and the steamboat landing, where, 
during the subsequent battle, the pontoon bridge of Sumner's grand division 
was laid. Here, on the north bank of the river, was the old plantation of Mrs. 
Mary Washington, mother of General Washington, and here, it was said, was the 
famous cherry tree which the boy George either did or did not cut down. At 
any rate, he could not tell a lie about it, and that is undoubtedly the reason 
that every man of the Twentieth Michigan who did or might have done picket 



CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK 39 



duty there has ever since adhered strictly to the truth in all their narratives 
about the war and their part therein. 

During the last ten days of November the engineers were busy in repairing 
the railroad line back to Aquia creek, in building- a high bridge across that 
stream, preparing docks for the steamboats and putting the roads from Belle 
Plain and Aquia creek to Fredericksburg in order. About the first week of 
December the pontoon trains began to arrive from Washington escorted by 
Siegel's corps. 

The first intention of General Burnside had been to cross his army by the 
fords above Falmouth, and seize the heights back of Fredericksburg before 
Lee could arrive; but the sudden rise of the river rendered this impracticable; 
and in any case it would have been perilous in the highest degree in the rainy 
season to throw his army across the river without adequate bridges to connect 
him with his base of supplies. 

The first installment of the pontoons arrived on November 25, but only enough 
for a single bridge; and as at least four bridges were necessary, these first were 
little better than none. 

This delay changed General Burnside's plan of operations; and after conference 
with General Halleck he decided to make his crossing at "Skinker's Neck," near 
Port Royal and about t_> miles below Fredericksburg, and the pontoon trains 
were ordered to that point. This movement was to have been made on the 
night of December 9. 

Bui the enemy became aware of the design and a large part of the rebel army 
under General Jackson was dispatched to that point to oppose the crossing, 
and General Burnside again suddenly changed his intention, and determined to 
make the crossing on the nth, directly in front of the city of Fredericksburg. 

All orders were given accordingly, and on the night of December 10, the army 
was massed in front of the city, and the pontoon trains moved into position, 
near the river, ready to lay the bridges at the earliest moment practicable. 

It was about four o'clock in the morning of the nth when the first gun 
was fired. It was a Confederate signal gun. from the heights back of Fredericks- 
burg. Then there was silence for an hour. But the moment the engineers 
began to lay the bridges at the first break of day, the rebel musketry opened 
upon them, and though upon the right General Hooker succeeded in getting 
his bridges laid, yet in the center, where Sumner's grand division was to cross, 
the pontooneers were driven off and the movement delayed. 

General Burnside then ordered the batteries to open on the town; and for 
two or three hours about a hundred and fifty guns, posted in every position of 
advantage along a fronl of nearly three miles on the heights north of the river, 
rained shot and shell upon the devoted town. 

It was one of the heaviest cannonades witnessed during the war, and the 
constant roar of the guns was for a time almost like a continuous peal of thunder. 
The town took fire in several places; but still the sharpshooters of Barksdale's 
rebel brigade clung tenaciously to their positions in cellars and rifle pits along 
the river bank and prevented the laying of the bridges. 

Meanwhile our division had struck its tents and moved down toward the river, 
ready to cross when the bridges should be completed. 



4 o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

It was near night when finally parts of two or three regiments, including the 
Seventh Michigan, pushed across in boats and drove off the rebel skirmishers, 
and enabled the engineers to complete the bridges. Immediately the crossing of 
the Second Corps (Couch's) commenced, but our division marched back to camp 
again, as our turn would not come before the morning of Friday, the 12th. 

During the night fires were still burning in several parts of the town, and 
casting a lurid light upon the clouds which overhung the city and the two armies 
now only waiting for the deadly strife. 

Throughout the night an occasional gun from the rebel position broke the 
ominous stillness as the Confederate artillerymen searched for the bridges where 
our armies were supposed to be crossing. 

By 9 o'clock of the 12th, the Second Corps and the Second and Third Divisions 
of the Ninth Corps were across, and our division commenced crossing. Sumner's 
grand division at this time consisted of the Second Corps, commanded by Major 
General D. N. Couch, and the Ninth Corps, commanded by Brigadier General 
Orlando B. Willcox. The Ninth Corps embraced three divisions, as follows: 

First Division — Commanded by Bigadier General W. W. Burns. 
Second Division — Commanded by Brigadier General S. D. Sturgis. 
Third Division — Commanded by Brigadier General George W. Getty. 

Our division comprised three brigades. 

Our (First) brigade was made up of four regiments, as heretofore stated. 

The Second brigade, commanded by Colonel B. C. Christ, included five regi- 
ments, and the Third brigade, commanded by Colonel Daniel Leasure, embraced 
the One Hundredth Pennsylvania. Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, and the Thirty- 
sixth Massachusetts — twelve regiments in the division. The position of the 
Ninth corps' bridge was almost directly opposite the city gas works, and was 
well covered from observation from the enemy's position. It was near noon 
of the 12th when the division completed its crossing, and, turning to the 
right on leaving the bridge, was drawn up in three lines by brigades in column, 
along the steamboat dock, between the river and the buildings. 

While we were still waiting in this position for orders to move, a Confederate 
battery on the eastern end of the plateau known as Marye's Heights opened upon 
us a lively fire of shot and shell. Some of their shells exploded over and in front 
of our lines and a number of men in the division were killed and wounded. 
This was the first time our regiment was actually under fire, and memorable on 
that account. 

A little distance to the left of the bridge-end was a small stream, called Hazel 
Run, which came down through a narrow valley east of Marye's Heights, and 
poured into the Rappahannock just below our landing. It took a little time 
to construct a bridge across Hazel Run capable of supporting the artillery, 
and during the afternoon the division moved by the left Hank across the run, 
and took position under a bluff which rose to a height of 20 or 30 feet and 
nearly parallel with the river, leaving a narrow meadow between the terrace and 
the stream. Our brigade occupied the ground next the bluff, and the other 



CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK 41 

brigades were drawn up between ns and the river. The left of Burns" division 
rested at Deep Run, near General Franklin's bridges, and the right extended 
to Hazel Run. Here we were entirely protected by the bluff from the enemy's 
direct fire, our sole function and duty being to form a connection between the 
right wing in the city, and Franklin's grand division, which had crossed below 
us and was deploying to the left, extending toward Hamilton's Crossing, nearly 
three miles from the city. 

Couch's Second corps occupied the upper part of the town, with Sturgis' divi- 
sion of the Ninth corps next on his left, and Getty filling the gap between Stur- 
gis and Burns. 

General Hooker's two bridges were near the upper end of the town, and 
Franklin's were about three-fourths of a mile below the town, just at a bend of 
the river. 

The 12th passed in comparative quiet, except for the occasional artillery duels 
and some rather light skirmishing. That night we lay upon our arms, under 
the cover of the bluff before mentioned, with pickets thrown out some dis- 
tance over the plain in front. There was a little snow upon the ground; the 
night was cold, and the men, without tents, suffered a good deal. As the night 
wore away a dense, cold fog settled over the valley of the river and covered 
the town and the plain from view. 

During the night Franklin, by whom the principal attack was to be made at 
and near Hamilton's Crossing, on the extreme left, had been moving his troops, 
into position. 

This grand division consisted of the First and Sixth corps, commanded by 
General J. F. Reynolds and General William F. Smith, respectively, and num- 
bered about 40,000 men. 

The Confederates occupied a range of hills rising from a level plain at a 
distance of from one to two miles — varying at different points — back from the 
river. 

Along this plain and nearly parallel with the range of hills ran the Fredericks- 
burg and Richmond railroad, and also the Richmond stage road. About three 
miles from the city this railroad turned to the south through a gap or depres- 
sion in the hills at a point where upon the crest of the hill was the Hamilton 
house. Here the stage road leading to the south crossed the railroad and 
gave to the locality the name of "Hamilton's Crossing." This was the eastern 
end of the range of hills ; and it was here that General Burnside intended the 
main attack to be made. Having seized this eastern end of the ridge, it was his 
purpose to hold on here with one or two divisions while Franklin with the whole 
of one of his corps would push southward and get in the rear of the enemy's 
main line, and thus compel him to evacuate his fortified position ; while Sumner 
and Hooker would assault in front, and carry the heights back of the city. Such 
was the plan, but, like many another good plan, it was destined never to be 
realized. 

The morning of the 13th wore slowly away, and every moment we expected, 
anxiously, the sounds of the opening battle. But the fog hung white, dense and 
impervious, and it was equally impossible for Franklin's troops to see the position 



42 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



of the Confederates, and for the latter to see or fire upon the massing columns 
of Reynold's First Corps, which had the lead. 

On the previous evening two divisions of Stoneman's Third corps had been 
ordered to report to General Franklin, and hold themselves in readiness to 
support his attack. This increased Franklin's force to about 60,000, or consider- 
ably more than one-half the entire army. 

At about 10 o'clock the fog lifted and revealed the situation to each of the 
antagonists, and immediately the battle opened. Meade, with his division of 
Pennsylvania reserves, advanced gallantly to the attack in the woods crowning 
the hills to the right (west) of Hamilton's Crossing, and after a fierce and 
bloody struggle carried a portion of the crest, only to be forced back by Jackson's 
troops later in the day, at about two o'clock, p. m. 

From the position where our division lay we could distinctly hear the sounds 
of battle on the left, both artillery and musketry, and at times even the cheers 
of the one side or the other, as they advanced to the charge or repelled the 
attack. At one time during the afternoon Burns' division was ordered to go to 
the support of General Franklin, and moved out by the left, crossing Deep Run, 
and forming in line, while two or three batteries went into position near Frank- 
lin's bridge-head, in order to keep open his line of communication if anything 
untoward should happen at the front. But we did not become engaged, except 
to receive some shelling from a battery posted near a large, brick house nearly 
in our front. Toward evening we again returned to our former position, be- 
tween Hazel Run and Deep Run. 

General Burnside had not originally intended to attack the heights back of 
the city until Franklin had made a secure lodgment at Hamilton's, and the 
rebel right had been turned. But becoming impatient of the delay, and finding 
that Franklin was having a harder job than was anticipated, at about the hour 
of noon he gave the order to Sumner to assault the heights, which was done in 
the most gallant and persistent manner, but in vain. 

No attempt will be made to go into details of these assaults, but from a 
position a little in advance of our regiment we had a very perfect view of the 
battlefield and saw brigade after brigade as they rushed up the slope in front 
of the sunken road at the foot of Marye's Hill, only to be hurled back by the 
deadly hail from the divisions of Cobb and Kershaw, which lay in that impregna- 
ble position, and the storm of grape and canister belched against them from the 
summit of the crest. Again and again the assault was renewed, still without 
success. 

Hooker was at last ordered in on the right, and Sturgis with his division 
of the Ninth corps upon the left of Couch's Second corps. 

They did all that heroic men could do, but the sun was setting and still no 
real advantage had been gained, when General Humphreys with his splendid di- 
vision of Pennsylvania troops made a final effort to carry the stone-wall and get 
possession of the sunken road. It was already getting dark when Humphreys' 
assault was delivered; and the writer of this will never forget either the 
heroic manner in which they advanced to the assault, or the wall of fire which 



CROSSING THE RAPPAHANNOCK 43 



ran around the base of the Majrye's Hill, withering and scorching them and 
sweeping them back 'as with the besom of destruction. 

This closed the heavy fighting of the day. Couch's corps had lost more than 
4,000 men. of whom 54 officers and 358 men were killed, and 266 officers 
and 2,968 men were wounded. The loss of the Ninth corps was 1,330, of which 
1,007 fell upon Sturgis' division. Humphrey's small division of only eight regi- 
ments lost 1,019. 

On that bloody arid disastrous day the army of the Potomac lost 12,653 officers 
and men— of whom 124 officers and 1.160 men were killed. 654 officers and 
8,946 men were wounded, and 20 officers and 1.749 men were missing — mostly 
wounded and captured. 

Once more darkness settled over this most disastrous field of the whole 
war, and gradually the snarl of the musketry and the deep boom of the big 
guns died out, and Fredericksburg had taken its place in history as the great 
slaughter pen of the Army of the Potomac. 

Soon after dark orders came for our regiment to go on picket at a farm 
house on the Richmond stage road, about a quarter or third of a mile in advance 
of the pi >-it inn we had occupied. 

We advanced across the plain nearly to the line of the railroad, and there we 
spent a long, cold and cheerless night. We were nearly midway between the 
two great battlefields of the right and the left, but fortunately beyond the 
sound of the cries of the wounded and the dying. 

All nighl long one heavy rebel gun on our left front boomed three or four 
times an hour, apparently feeling for our bridges, in the expectation that troops 
would be moving there. At last the morning began to color the east, and we 
quietly moved bark to our former position under the bluff. 

During the night General Burnside had determined, in spite of protests, to 
renew the assault on the morning of the 14th, and as General Burns' division had 
not been engaged upon the 13th, and had suffered only slight losses, it was 
selected to lead the attack. 

The line on which the attack was to be made was up the valley of Hazel Run, 
and alnio-t in front of our position. 

Order- W ere i>sued to the several divisions of the Ninth Corps, and by nine 
o'clock the column of assault was formed, in column of regiments, our brigade 
in the lead. A portion of the Second Michigan was thrown forward as skirm- 
ishers; the Seventy-ninth New York— a small regiment— formed the first line 
and the Twentieth Michigan came next. 

Knowing the result of the attack of the day before, and the tremendous losses 
suffered by Couch and Sturgis, we awaited with intense anxiety the order to 
advance. The skirmishers were moving and some shots had been fired, and 
yet the rebel batteries on the heights, although they must have seen us, remained 
silent. It was Sunday morning; the sky was clear, and the sun lighted up the 
ghastly scene in front of the sunken road, where the slope was almost covered 
with our dead. 

It was a most trying delay — and yet the order to advance did not come. 



44 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



It was near high noon when an aide rode down from the city and gave the 
order to move the division back to its former position, between Hazel Run and 
Deep Run. 

A council of war had been in session at the court house, and the judgment 
had been well-nigh unanimous against General Burnside, and it was determined 
not to renew the attack. We returned to our bivouac, and once more, on the 
frozen ground and under the December skies, we lay down for another night of 
anxious watchfulness. Our rations were short, and no fires were permitted; 
and, cold and hungry, we shivered through the night. 

Another long day came and went and the battle was not renewed; but on 
the night of Monday, the 15th, with muffled tread we moved silently, like 
an army of ghosts, across the bridges, and when the sun rose over Stafford 
hills on the morning of the 16th it found the Army of the Potomac back in its 
old cantonments, on the north side of the Rappahannock, diminished by 1,284 
killed, about 9,000 wounded, and 1,700 missing. A large percentage of the 
wounded were classed as "slightly or not seriously" wounded, and many of them 
did not even go to hospitals. 

Our part in the battle of Fredericksburg was simply that of a connecting link, 
and a reserve, but it was none the less pretty trying upon health and nerves. 
The depressing influence upon both officers and men was very great, and some 
officers, high up in the regiment, seemed to lose hope and confidence and this 
was reflected down through the rank and file. This was truly, in Shakespeare's 
words, "The winter of our discontent." 

And here we will pause before entering upon other and happier scenes and 
experiences. 



CHAPTER VI. 



AFTER THE BATTLE— NEWPORT NEWS— WESTWARD. 

December 15, 1862. March 26, 1863. 

Twenty-two years after the battle of Fredericksburg the writer of this stood 
upon "Marye's Hill" in company with General James Longstreet, who com- 
manded the entire left wing of the Confederate army in that battle, together with 
General John M. Newton, who commanded one of the divisions of Franklin's 
grand division on the left, and other generals both Union and Confederate, and 
heard General Longstreet describe the battle of December 13 as he saw it from 
the heights. His story did not vary in any material particular from that writ- 
ten by him for the Century Magazine and found in "Battles and Leaders of the 
Civil War" vol. 3 ; published by the Century Company. 

Speaking of the repeated charges and repulses of Sumner's grand division, 
General Longstreet said it made his heart ache to see the slaughter of such gal- 
lant soldiers. 

The writer asked General Longstreet if he was aware of the formation of the 
column of assault on Sunday morning the 14th in the valley of Hazel Run. 
He said that he watched that formation from the moment it commenced, until 
the orders were countermanded and the column was withdrawn, but that it did 
not give him the slightest uneasiness ; that he had thirty pieces of cannon in 
position, which would have cross-fired the column from the moment it should 
start and so long as a man continued to advance. 

He said he was confident that the column would never live to reach one-half 
the distance to the hills. He pointed out the positions of his batteries and the 
number of his guns, and declared that for humanity's sake he was glad when the 
attempt was given up. He mentioned the fact that in Saturday's battle a 
brigade of Sturgis' division, having been repulsed in its attempt to reach the 
sunken road, took refuge in a railroad cut, when a battery opened upon them 
which enfiladed the cut, causing great slaughter. Referring again to the pro- 
posed assault on Sunday morning, he said he would have been reluctant to 
turn his batteries upon us, but added grimly, "But you know that war is war." 
Simply another form of the remark which General Sherman made to the mayor 
of Atlanta. 

The official reports published by the government contain but little relative to 
Burns' division. In the appendix will be found all that is printed in the "Official 
Records of the War of the Rebellion." General Burns' own report is scarcely 
half a finger's length, while there are no reports whatsoever from the brigade 
commanders. General Willcox barely mentions Burns' division as being ordered 
to report to Franklin, and its return to its original position. 



46 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



By the 1 7th of December the troops were all hack in their old cantonments, 
and the routine of picket and camp was resumed. But a dark pall had settled 
upon the army, and discouragement, exposure, had food and homesickness pro- 
duced much disease and many deaths. For a time it was an almost dady thing 
to hear the fifes of our drum corps shrilly wailing out the death-march. On 
December 27th there were four deaths in the regiment. The hospital was full 
and frequently the ambulances would remove such as could safely be moved to 
Belle Plain, whence they would be taken by boat to Washington and placed in 
general hospital. 

On December 5 Major Smith had received his commission as lieutenant col- 
onel, and Captain Cutcheon of Company B mustered as major of the regiment. 
This created a vacancy in the captaincy of Company H. to which Lieutenant 
Charles T. Allen was promoted. Some time after the battle the Eighth Michi- 
gan was attached for a short time to our brigade, and Colonel Fenton assumed 
command while Colonel Poe went to Washington on have of absence. Upon 
the return of Colonel Poe, he resumed the command of the brigade, and Colonel 
Fenton went home, and in March resign* d 

Many of the Twentieth will remember the romance of "Frank Thompson," 
"the girl soldier" of Company F. Second Michigan, who was brigade mail carrier 
while & thc brigade was under command of Colonel O. M. Poe. Colonel Fred. 
Schneider, of the old Second, ha^ written an interesting account of this absolutely 
well authenticated case of a girl who for two year> served as a common soldier 
—sometimes as hospital attendant, sometimes a- scou4 and sometimes as mail- 
carrier and orderly. All who were with Poe's brigade at the battle of Fredericks- 
burg must certainly remember the boyish orderly who followed close to the 
colonel everywhere. At Lebanon, Kentucky, in April. 1.%.?, Frank Thompson 
(or as her real name was. Sarah E. Edmonds) deserted from the brigade hos- 
pital to prevent the discovery of her sex. Twenty-five years afterwards, through 
the efforts of Colonel Cutcheon, the charge of desertion was removed, and she 
was granted a pension of $12.00 per month by special act of congress. After the 
war she married a man by the name of Seelye and lived for some years in Charle- 
voix county. Afterward they removed to Fort Scott. Kansas, and a few years 
ago she died in Texa>. 

One event which helped to brighten the closing days of the year was the pre- 
sentation to the regiment of a fine state banner, which had been prepared by the 
ladies of Jackson. The original intention had been to present it before the regi- 
ment left Jackson ; but this proved to be impracticable. The flag was forwarded 
by express, and lay in Washington for a long time; but reached us after the 
battle, and was finally presented upon Christmas Day, 1862. In "Michigan in 
the War" the date is given as Thanksgiving Day— this was an error. The 
address of presentation was written by Mrs. Louisa Blair, wife of Governor 
Blair, and was read by Dr. O. P. Chubb, afterward surgeon of the regiment. 
The speech of acceptance was delivered by Major Cutcheon, who had been 
selected for that purpose by the officers of the regiment. Both addresses were 
published in the "Union Vidette," printed by the officers of the brigade, at 
Lebanon, Kentucky, April 20, 1863. In his address Major Cutcheon spoke of the 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG 47 



Seventh Michigan crossing at Fredericksburg, December 11, which makes it cer- 
tam that the presentation did not 'take place on Thanksgiving day, which was 
November 27. 

An extract from the diary of Lieutenant Walter McCollum under date of 
December 25 says: "At 10:30 a. m. the regiment wis drawn up to receive the 
state colors. The presentation speech by Mrs. Governor Blair was read by 
acting adjutant. The reply was made by Major B. M. Cutcheon." 

The battle of Fredericksburg was followed by a long congressional investiga- 
tion, the result of which was that on January 25, [863, General Burnside was re- 
heved at his own request of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and 
General Joseph Hooker was placed in command. 

Soon after this change, on February 6, the Ninth army corps was detached 
from the Army of the Potomac and ordered to report to General John \ Dix 
at Fortress Monroe. On the morning of February M the regimenl took cars 
at the station near the Phillips house, being the last of the corps to move and 
the same day embarked upon the steamer Robert Morris at Aquia Creek and 
on the 16th reported to General Dix. The three divisions were disembarked at 
Newport News, upon the James River, where, upon a high and healthful location 
plain extending fur some miles along the east bank of the lame. River 
we made our camp. Willcox on the right, Getty on the left and Sturgis in the 
center, facing the river. 

The soil was loose and porous, so that it dried quickly after a rain; there were 
abundant springs oi pure water, and here, occupied with drill, picket and the 
routine camp duty, the regiment spent a delightful month 
Our brigade occupied the extreme right of the hue fronting the lames River 
Directly in front of our encampment in the middle of lames River lay the 
Wr< T S ° J the W f r shi P s Congress and Cumberland, where they had been sunk 
by the famous rebel ,ron-clad ram Merrimac, a year before. Only the upper por- 
""■;/>• their masts appeared above water to mark the spot where that ep< 
making naval battle took place. 

Colonel Poe ordered daily battalion drills, and three times a week he personally 
Ctm ' ^ bTlg ** e dnlls " With abunda "< nations, and plenty of occupation and 
no hardship, the command quickly regained the morale which had been in 
great part lost at Fredericksburg, and rapidly unproved in both health and 
spirits. There was no enemy near to molest us, but picket duty was strictly main- 
tamed, and a school of instruction of officers was organized 

1 leutenant Colonel Smith received leave of absence for 30 days, to go home to 
Michigan, and left in the early part of .March 

The regiment had built a regular and handsome camp, which attracted con- 

iderable attention and served to inspire some feeling of pride in the regiment 

and to .mprove their condition. I , n gathering fof ^J t{ J 

During most of the period since the regiment had been in the field it had been 

r s enToved ntS Th 0r ** f*"" ?"* ^^ w,,idl ° ther ^™«* <™' 

us enjoyed. The result was much sickness and a considerable number of deaths 

There were many of the leading line officers (most of them afterward fell 
most gallantly at the post of duty before the end of the war) who believed 



4 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



and said that this was largely the fault of the commander of the regiment. This 
feeling increased and deepened with time, and finally took tangible form in a 
petition signed by all the line officers present, stating their grievances, and declar- 
ing in conclusion that in the opinion of the petitioners the good of the regiment 
demanded that the colonel should relinquish the command. 

The colonel immediately ordered all the signers of the petition under arrest 
for insubordination, and demanded of them, one by one, that they should with- 
draw their names from the paper. 

This was upon the 18th day of March, 1863. There was but little sleep in the 
camp that night. It was a most remarkable situation. During the night an 
amicable arrangement, the detail of which it is unnecessary to here state, was 
reached, within an hour afterward, marching orders came and by noon of 
March 19, tents had been struck, the baggage loaded on the wagons, and, 
through the fast falling rain and snow the regiment marched to the landing at 
Newport News, and went on board the steamer Croton. 

But the colonel had been taken violently ill, and under the care of the surgeon 
he was taken to the steamer in the ambulance and on reaching Baltimore, received 
30 days' leave of absence and proceeded to Michigan. The command of the 
regiment devolved upon Major Cutcheon, on the morning of the 19th. 

On February 24 Quartermaster Dwight, having resigned before the corps left 
Fredericksburg, Adjutant H. S. Warner was promoted to quartermaster, and 
First Lieutenant E. P. Pitkens, Company H, was promoted to adjutant of the 
regiment. This resulted in the promotion of -Lieutenant Walter McCollum, of 
Company H, to first lieutenant, and Orderly Horace V. Knight, of that company, 
to second lieutenant. 

In January, 1863, Captain Anderson, of Company E, had resigned, which re- 
sulted in the promotion of Lieutenant Francis Porter to his place, and the like 
resignation of Captain Elijah Hammond, of Company K, permitted the promotion 
of First Lieutenant Roswell P. Carpenter, of Company D, to be captain of Com- 
pany K. 

At the same time the resignation of Captain Willis, of Company G, caused 
the promotion of Lieutenant John S. Montgomery to be captain of that company, 
and other promotions to fill vacancies so produced. All these changes, and 
others occurring at about the same time, resulted in the greatly improved dis- 
cipline and efficiency of the regiment. At Newport News, we had been realiz- 
ing the full benefits of all these changes, and the command left there in excellent 
condition of health and spirit. 

When General Burnside was relieved of the command of the Army of the 
Potomac, General W. F. Smith was assigned to the temporary command of the 
Ninth corps, and continued so until March 16, when he was permanently re- 
lieved and General Willcox placed in command. 

On March 13, on the strength of a report that General Longstreet with a large 
force was marching upon Suffolk, the Third Division, under General George W. 
Getty, was ordered to that place, and remained permanently in the Department of 
Virginia, and never again rejoined the corps. 

To return to the movement of the division : It was late in the afternoon of 



AFTER FREDERICKSBURG 49 



March 19 when we cast off from Newport News, and in the midst of a dismal 
storm, steamed away to Norfolk for coal and water. ■ The boats were over- 
crowded, and the storm continued so rough that it was not until three o'clock 
in the afternoon of the 21st that we sailed out of Hampton Roads and proceeded 
on our way to Baltimore. Until we reached there we could only guess the 
destination of the corps. We now learned that General Burnside had been 
placed in command of the Department of the Ohio, with headquarters at Cincin- 
nati, and that we were bound for Kentucky. 

On the 22d we disembarked at Locust Point, and, in the evening took cars on 
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad for Parkersburg on the Ohio River. At day- 
light on the 23d, we were among the familiar scenes around Harper's Ferry, 
where we stopped for breakfast, and then after passing the scene of our encamp- 
ment in September and October at Antietanf Iron works, at about dusk we 
halted outside the city of Cumberland, where bread, meat and coffee had been 
provided along side the railroad. Here the men disembarked and stretched 
their legs for an hour, and then we proceeded on our way over the mountains. 
We lost the chance to see the most picturesque part of the scenery during the 
night of the 23d, but the next day we passed through West Virginia, and at 
evening of the 24th we reached Parkersburg, on the Ohio. 

It was late in the evening when steamer swung out from Parkersburg, into 
the Ohio, and commenced the descent of that picturesque and historic stream. 
The next day, the 25th, was a beautiful day, and all on board enjoyed it to the 
full. 

All seemed rejoiced to leave the Army of the Potomac and get west of the 
mountains and nearer to Michigan. But few incidents in the history of the 
regiment will be recalled with more pleasure by the survivors of the Twentieth 
than that sail down the Ohio. 

On the morning of March 26 we reached Cincinnati. 

In pursuance to orders, Major Cutcheon commanding the regiment — both col- 
onel and lieutenant colonel having gone to Michigan — reported in person to 
General Burnside at the Burnett House. The general directe'd that the regi- 
ment be brought ashore and marched to the Fifth street market, where breakfast 
would be served. Accordingly the men were disembarked and marched to the 
market, where an abundant breakfast had been prepared. On the way back to 
the boat we halted on the east front of the Burnett House, and General Burnside 
came out on the balcony, and greeted the regiment, who gave the general three 
hearty cheers, and then proceeded on board the boat. Another delightful day of 
sailing down the Ohio followed, and at 10 p. m., on the night of March 26, 1863, 
we reached Louisville, Ky., and became a part of the Army of the Ohio. 

This closes another epoch in the history of the regiment, and opens a new and 
interesting episode in our service. 
4 



CHAPTER VII 



THE KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN. 

March 26, 1863. June 9, 1863. 

Although the regiment reached Louisville at 10 o'clock on the night of March 
26, yet, as the most of the men had already turned in for the night, we did 
not disembark until the morning of the 27th. 

The regiment was then formed and marched through the streets to the Louis- 
ville and Nashville depot, where breakfast had been provided. After breakfast 
the regiment marched to "Preston's woods," an eastern suburb of this city, where 
it remained until noon of the 28th, when it marched to the station to take cars 
on the Louisville & Nashville railroad, for Bardstown, Ky., about 50 miles a little 
east of south of Louisville. A long delay occurred in getting cars, and it was 
nearly night when we finally got away and left the city behind. 

It had been reported that rebel guerrillas were lurking near the railroad, and 
the progress we made was slow and tedious. A good share of the night we lay 
at Bardstown Junction, and not until daybreak of the 29th did we reach our 
destination. At Bardstown we encamped in a beautiful and stately grove upon 
the estate of Ex-Governor Wickliffe. 

At this time the state of Kentucky was divided into two military districts; 
the western district, in which we were located, was commanded by General 
J. T. Boyle, with headquarters at Louisville. The headquarters of the eastern 
district were at Lexington, and General O. B. Willcox was assigned to com- 
mand in that district. 

From the time of the transfer of the Eighth Michigan, our brigade continued 
to consist of the following named regiments: 

Seventy-ninth New York (Highlanders) — Lieutenant Colonel Morrison. 

Second Michigan — Colonel William Humphrey. 

Eighth Michigan — Major Ralph Ely. 

Seventeenth Michigan— Colonel W. H. Withington and Lieutenant Colonel 
Constant Luce. 

Twentieth Michigan— Colonel A. W. Williams and Lieutenant Colonel W. 
Huntington Smith. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith rejoined the regiment at Louisville, March 27. 
Division headquarters were at Lexington, and the second brigade was dis- 
tributed to points in the eastern district. 

Colonel W. H. Withington of the Seventeenth Michigan had resigned 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN 51 

before we left Newport News, and he never again joined, having returned 
Qermanently to civil life. He was succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Constant 
Luce, who was soon after commissioned colonel. 

Colonel Poe having resigned as colonel of the Second Michigan, Captain 
William Humphrey was promoted to be colonel, and when Lieutenant Colonel 
Louis Dillman resigned, Colonel Humphrey assumed command at Lebanon on 
April 25. 

On April 1 the command received orders, '"March next morning to Lebanon. ' 
April 2 we marched through a fine country, over good roads, a distance of eighteen 
miles in a southeasterly direction to Springfield, the county seat of Washington 
county, and that night encamped in the fair grounds near the town. Many of 
the regiment occupied the "grand stand" for headquarters that night. The next 
day, April 3, the brigade marched about twelve miles, nearly due south, to 
Lebanon, the county seat of Marion county, and encamped in a meadow east of 
the town. 

We found at this point a garrison consisting of one or more Kentucky regi- 
ments and at least one battery of artillery, all under the command of Brigadier 
General Mahlon D. Manson of Indiana. On April 6 the regiment was paid off 
to March 1. This was the second payment since leavingMichigan. On the 
ninth the brigade was reviewed by General Manson. 

On April 25 Colonel Williams returned — Lieutenant Colonel Smith had been 
in command since we left Louisville. 

Colonel Williams brought with him commissions for quite a number of 
officers who had been promoted in consequence of resignations during the 
winter. The colonel held dress parade and issued an order announcing the pro- 
motions, but with this exception did not resume command of the regiment. 

April 27 the brigade, under the command of Colonel David Morrison of the 
Seventy-ninth New York, marched from Lebanon for the site of Green River 
bridge on the main road to Columbia, the county seat of Adair county That day 
we marched about twenty miles and camped beyond Campbellsville. April 28 
we marched to Green River, twelve miles, where it was designed that the brigade 
should reconstruct a bridge which had been destroyed January 1 by the Confeder- 
ates. We arrived at Green River before noon and were there met by an order 
from General Manson to send our regiment forward to Columbia, and thence to 
reenforce Colonel Richard T. Jacob, commanding a brigade of cavalry near 
Jamestown, at a point on the Cumberland River, called "Greasy Creek Ford." 
Accordingly the regiment bade adieu to the rest of the brigade, and after march- 
ing a few miles toward Columbia, encamped for the night. Early the next 
morning the march was resumed, the regiment reaching Columbia at 10:30 
a. m. Here all surplus baggage was stored, and three days' rations cooked. 
Up to this point Colonel Williams had accompanied the regiment, though Colonel 
Smith continued in command ; but on this day Colonel Williams bade good-bye 
to the Twentieth, and never again commanded it. 

The history of the campaign to Monticello and the scout under Captain W. D. 
Wiltsie and the fight at Horseshoe Bend, and the return to Columbia on May 12 
are all told so fully in the "official reports" of Colonel Jacob, Lieutenant Colonel 



52 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



W. Huntington Smith and Captain W. D. Wiltsie (for which see appendix), 
that it is hardly necessary to extent this story by repeating them here. This is 
the most satisfactory instance of official reporting connected with the entire 
history of the regiment. But simply to preserve the continuity of the narrative, 
record is here made of the movements of the command. 

April 29— Left Columbia at 2 o'clock p. m. and marched ten miles east toward 
Jamestown and bivouacked. 

April 30— Regiment mustered for pay. Marched at 7 a. m. through Jamestown 
to Greasy Creek Ford, and bivouacked. Distance thirteen miles. 

May 1 — Remained at Greasy Creek until late at night and then crossed the 
Cumberland River in a leaky old ferry boat. 

May 2— Marched to Monticello, thirteen miles, and bivouacked. The cavalry 
had just had a skirmish in the village and some dead were still lying in the 
streets. 

May 3 — Remained at Monticello; raining much of the time. 

May s— Marched back to Greasy Creek Ford. 

May 6, 7 and 8— Waiting to recross the Cumberland, the cavalry regiments 
crossing first and holding the boat. 

May 8— Detachment under Captain W. D. Wiltsie sent out to break up guer- 
rilla band. 

May 9— Fight of party under Captain Wiltsie at Alcorn's distillery, and attack 
on the outpost of the Twentieth Michigan at the Narrows of Horseshoe Bend. 

May 10 (Sunday) — Battle of Horseshoe Bend and return across the Cumber- 
land. 

This narrative would be very incomplete without some brief account in this 
place of the fight at Horseshoe Bend. The Cumberland River opposite the 
mouth of Greasy Creek near Jamestown makes a grand curve, returning upon 
itself, so that after a detour of not less than five miles, it forms a narrow neck 
not more than one-third to one-half of a mile across. This is known as the 
"Narrows," and the curve is designated as ''Horseshoe Bend." From the 
Greasy Creek Ford (or Ferry) to the Narrows is about two miles. As the main 
road to Monticello emerges from the woods at the Narrows it passes over a 
sharp crest and enters the clearing around the "Coffey place" — embracing, per- 
haps, thirty acres of land. The Coffey House (so called from name of its 
owner), was an ordinary, medium-sized log house on the left hand (north) side 
of the road, with a narrow road or lane, bordered by high rail fences 'coming 
into the main road on the near (west) side of the house. The Coffey House 
was surrounded by the usual outbuildings, none of them large. Back of the 
house was a garden and orchard, also surrounded by fences, and a short dis- 
tance beyond the house the road turned to the left and again entered heavy 
woods. 

Our pickets were stationed in the edge of these woods with a small picket- 
reserve at the outhouses of the Coffey House. 

Companies A and C had been on picket duty at the Narrows, and these had 
been reinforced by Company D, under Captain Grant; and Companies B and 
K under Captains Allen and Carpenter, who had been out on the scout to 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN 53 

Alcorns under Captain Wiltsie, and had fallen back on the evening of the ninth to 
the Narrows, thus concentrating about one-half the regiment at that point. 

As soon as word came to the Ford at about 4 p. m. of the ninth, that our 
scouts and pickets had been attacked, Colonel Smith ordered Major Cutcheon 
to proceed at once to the narrows and take command of all the detachments 
there. When within about five hundred yards of the Narrows, Major Cutcheon 
met Captain Barnes in command of all the detachments of Companies A, B, C, 
D and K, moving back toward the Ford. 

But as Captain Wiltsie with his detachment had not yet come in, or been 
heard from, Major Cutcheon decided to hold the Narrows until Wiltsie could 
have time to report. He accordingly posted his force along the crest at the 
edge of the Coffey farm, Companies C and K on the right and A and D on the 
left of the road, with B in reserve at the center. Pickets were posted beyond 
the clearing with reserves at the outbuildings. 

About dark on the ninth the enemy's advance felt our position, but imme- 
diately retired out of sight and hearing. 

During the evening Colonel Smith came up with the remainder of the regi- 
ment which he held in reserve in the rear of the ridge until after daylight. 

At about 8 o'clock, Sunday the tenth, the enemy advanced in force in line of 
battle, forced back our pickets and took possession of the house, outbuildings, gar- 
den and orchard, and the line of the lane or road leading back to our left. Their 
line of battle was sufficient to extend from the woods on our right into the woods 
on the left, and might have been a small brigade of dismounted cavalry. Having 
gained the buildings and the cross-road, the enemy made no attempt to charge us, 
but kept up a desultory skirmish fire all day. During the forenoon a battalion 
of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, about 125 men, armed with carbines came up, 
and were posted near the center of the line. 

Colonel Richard T. Jacob had come up during the night and took command. 
Some time after noon one piece of Captain Sim's Twenty-fourth Indiana Bat- 
tery arrived and was posted on a crest on the extreme left, supported by Com- 
panies B, I and G, while Company F was deployed on our right extending well 
down toward the river. Company F, was in the line in the left center. Company 
H was still absent with Captain Wiltsie. During the afternoon it was evident 
that the enemy was receiving reinforcements and preparing to take the offensive. 
Colonel Jacob resolved to anticipate them, and ordered the artillery to open on 
at the house, garden, orchard and woods. 

At the same time that the gun opened the whole iine was ordered to charge 
and take the house and cross-road and force the enemy back into the woods. 

The instant the artillery opened the whole line sprang forward at the charge, 
Company K on the right of the main road, Company C, Captain Barnes, directly 
down the road, and Companies A and D immediately on the left of the road; 
the three companies supporting the batteries remained near the gun. 

The battalion of the Twelfth Kentucky dashed forward in most gallant style 
in the center, and the enemy fled in haste from house, garden and orchard, back 
into the woods. 

Up to this time the force we had been fighting was Colonel Cluke's brigade. 



54 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



consisting of the Eighth and Eleventh Kentucky Cavalry under Major R. S. 
Bullock and Colonel D. W. Chenault. But now the whole of General John H. 
Morgan's division had arrived, and had just formed in line for the charge, 
when our advance was made. Cluke's brigade rallied on Morgan's division, and 
the entire force now advanced in two lines of battle, extending from woods to 
woods, outnumbering our force by at least eight to one. 

Our force consisted of about 250 of the Twentieth Michigan, 125 dismounted 
cavalry and one gun of Sim's Battery— about 400 men in all. 

When Morgan's division came pouring out of the woods, we were ordered 
to fall back to our former position which we did without panic or confusion. 
In doing so we lost several men, as we had lost a number in the charge, includ- 
ing Lieutenant William M. Green, who fell midway of the field leading his 
men most gallantly. 

After holding the position for about half an hour until the wounded and the 
gun were removed, we fell back to the second position in the woods, where a 
summons to surrender was sent us. Colonel Jacob invited General Morgan to 
come and take him. which he failed to do, and reinforcements coming up, we 
retired in good order to the Cumberland River, and before nightfall were safely 
across. So ended our first real fight. 

Colonel Jacob in his report says: "The men of Michigan. Indiana and Ken- 
tucky vied with each other in daring deeds, and men never fought better. In 
the skirmish of Saturday and the fight at Horseshoe Bend on Sunday, the 
regiment lost one officer (Green) killed, one officer (Lounsberry), wounded and 
captured, and one officer (Lieutenant Knight), prisoner. 

Besides these there were three men killed, seventeen wounded and six missing 
—captured in the Saturday skirmish. For his part in this action, in leading the 
charge on the Coffey House, on the reports of Lieutenant Colonel Smith and 
Colonel Richard T. Jacob, Major Cutcheon received the "Congressional Medal 
of Honor." (For reports see appendix.) 

May 11, the Twentieth commenced its march back to Columbia and marched 
thirteen miles and bivouacked. Met the Seventeenth Michigan coming to our 
relief, and next morning they returned with us to Columbia, where we arrived 
at 10 o'clock of the twelfth and rejoined the brigade. 

This episode makes one of the most interesting and satisfactory periods of the 
regiment's history, because we were detached from the brigade, and practically 
fought the battle alone, although the men of the Kentucky Cavalry behaved in 
a most gallant manner, and the one gun of Captain Sim's Indiana Battery ren- 
dered most excellent service. The wounded from the fight and those who 
became sick from the exposure of the last two weeks were brought back to 
Columbia and cared for in the hospital or in private houses. 

Among those who were taken ill as the result of the campaign was Major 
Cutcheon, who was cared for at a private residence for about two weeks. 

On the seventeenth about a dozen officers who had been promoted since 
leaving Fredericksburg started for Louisville under orders to be mustered in 
their new commissions. 



KENTUCKY CAMPAIGN 



These officers were mustered on the nineteenth, were paid on the twentieth, and 
returned to the command on the twenty-second. The time was occupied with drills 
and scouting for the rest of that month. On May 30, Lieutenant C. A. Louns- 
berry, who had been wounded and taken prisoner in the affair beyond the Nar- 
rows on the ninth, was brought in, having been rescued from a farm-house 
where he had lain since the day of the fight. 

On June 1 the Seventeenth Michigan was temporarily transferred to Third 
Brigade, the One Hundredth Pennsylvania ("Roundheads") taking its place in our 
brigade — now changed to the Third, the old Third becoming the First — and Col- 
onel Daniel Leasure of the One Hundredth Pennsylvania was assigned to com- 
mand the brigade, so that now we were organized as follows : 

First Division — Brigadier General Thomas Welch. 

Third Brigade — Colonel Daniel Leasure. 

One Hundredth Pennsylvania — Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Dawson. 

Second Michigan — Colonel William Humphrey. 

Eighth Michigan — Major Ralph Ely. 

Twentieth Michigan — Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Smith. 

Seventy-ninth New York — Colonel David Morrison. 

On the same date orders were received from General Burnside to turn over 
ail A tents and wall tents to the quartermaster, and all baggage which could not 
be carried by the men to be sent to the rear, and eight days' rations to be 
cooked. As it was well known that General Burnside contemplated a move 
into Tennessee, and as he had just moved his headquarters from Cincinnati to 
Hickman's Bridge (Camp Nelson), it was supposed, of course, that the expected 
campaign was just about to begin. 

June 3 — Baggage and rations taken to Green River Bridge. 

June 4 — Order to march came during the night. The Second and Twentieth 
Michigan and One Hundredth Pennsylvania started at daylight and marched 
to Campbellsville, about twenty miles, and bivouacked. 

June 5 — Marched at 4 a. m. for Lebanon, where we arrived at noon, having 
made twenty miles. Prepared rations and at 9 .30 p. m. the Second and Twen- 
tieth took cars to Louisville. 

June 6 — Reached Louisville at daylight. At this time it became known that 
our corps was on its way to Vicksburg to reinforce General Grant. At Louis- 
ville Colonel Williams, who was on special duty there, visited the regiment for 
the last time. 

Major Cutcheon at Louisville received a leave of absence on surgeon's certi- 
ficate, and left the regiment at Jeffersonville, Indiana, to go to Michigan, and did 
not rejoin until June 29. while the regiment lay at Milldale, Mississippi. 

Proceeding by rail via Seymour. Indiana, and Sandoval, Illinois, the com- 
mand reached Cairo, Illinois, on the eighth and took boat down the Mississippi 
river on the ninth. 

Thus ended the Kentucky campaign, which had proved a great relief from the 
winter on the Rappahannock. 



5 6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



The delightful weather, healthful camps and frequent changes, and especially 
the active campaign had done much to recuperate and invigorate the men. 
Many promotions had taken place among the officers, resulting in corresponding 
promotions among the men, and the regiment went to its new field in excellent 
health and spirits. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN. 

JU0e 9 ' l863 August ii, ,85s. 

It was the understanding when we received orders to proceed to Mississiooi 

Kentucky to m a», campaigI , t " / S , 7 ' "' rn '° 

from the dock a, Cairo and rUd ^t^b^t^^E^ 

Such lawless acts by guerrillas were of freqnenl occurrence and as a p rotec . 

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low v,: :::::: M o n s z p n '; " : : p tj ^ a —' ™ b »* « -= 

the urea If , " ' '''- V - "" ""•■'"'"■ the re * im<:n « arched across 
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' he " ver " '■'■'■ '"' ^nded, and ,, nigh. ,1,, regimen,, with the res of X 

Xne^The "' ? T ''"""' """'" "*' had ^2 * ^before 

June 16-The comma,,,] embarked on steamboats and sailed no ,Z v 

itv-'n r^' 5 B,Uff ' Whe " '" e "•*"*■ "-embarked, and the brigaoe, of 

£ mgBi^vT COnCeMra,ed "' ' """"- ***** '" *«" "I 

John h G t parkl Vi !ir^!. he "?* *"" "^ " K <° m ™"<> °< ^>or General 

^hing ;:„k;, r a e C e ef of General Peml>crton in vfcksbu *- **■* ■**»<• & 



5 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

On June 29 the brigade marched to Flower Hill church on Oak Ridge, 
about seven miles east of Milldale, and took up position to oppose any 
attempt on the part of General Johnston to attack Grant's army from the rear. 
Our corps covered the front from the Big Black to the Yazoo Rivers. Here the 
regiment resumed the work of throwing up entrenchments, which continued 
until July 4, on which day Vicksburg was surrendered with its entire garrison 
and armament. About 32,000 men were surrendered and paroled. 

On the same afternoon General Grant issued orders to the Ninth and Smith's 
Division of the Sixteenth Corps to march at once under command of General 
William T. Sherman to drive back Johnston's army and take and hold the city of 
Jackson, the capital of the state, and destroy the railroads as far as possible north, 
south and east of Jackson. The right wing of the army, consisting of the Thir- 
teenth and Fifteenth Corps, except Logan's Division, advanced under General E. 
O. C. Ord. 

The command marched at 4 o'clock p. m., July 4, in a northeasterly direction 
and bivouacked in the woods near Young's Cross Roads, seven miles from Flower 
Hill. 

July 5 — Marched at 1 p. m. to the vicinity of Birdsong Ferry on the Big 
Black River and bivouacked in the woods between Bear Creek and the Big 
Black. A reconnaissance showed the Ferry to be in the hands of the enemy and 
the passage to be practicable by fording. 

July 6 — The First Brigade was engaged in building a bridge across the Big 
Black River. They tore down a cotton gin building to procure the timbers and 
materials. A part of the troops crossed that night. 

The Twentieth went on picket a mile beyond the point where the bridge 
was building. Slight skirmishing on the river. 

July 7 — The regiment took its place in the division column and crossed the 
Big Black about noon. The Big Black bottoms were low and flat, partially 
covered with groves of trees and surrounded by high lands. It was about two 
miles across these flat bottom lands and the heat was intense. It must have been 
much above 100 degrees in the shade, and many degrees hotter in the sun, where 
we were obliged to march. 

Many men were overcome by the heat. By order of the surgeon the regiment 
was halted the moment the upland was reached, for a long rest. That night we 
marched until about 11 o'clock, some of the time moving across plantations and 
by private roads. 

After dark there came up a most fearful storm of lightning, wind and rain, 
such as is not seen in the north. The rain came down in sheets, the thunder 
pealed terrifically, the lightning flashed and blazed continuously, and the roads 
became torrents, at times, with water ankle deep. No one who was in it will ever 
forget that night march. A little after 11 o'clock we turned into a field and 
bivouacked, near Bolton. Soon many fires were blazing, and the men were 
cooking their suppers and drying their clothing and blankets. The next day, 
July 8, we remained in camp until after noon. Marched that night until near 
midnight, toward Jackson and went into bivouac. This day, a number of 
horses died, apparently from poisoning, and upon the presumption that the drink- 



MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN 59 

ing pools had been contaminated, several plantation buildings were burned. 
Among them was the residence of Joe Davis, brother of Jefferson Davis, the 
president of the Confederacy. 

On July 9 we marched at 7 o'clock and bivouacked seven miles from the 
city of Jackson in a northwest direction. In this country there were few 
wells, the water being mostly stored in deep cisterns, and the men suffered a 
good deal from thirst. Along the route guards were stationed around these cis- 
terns to prevent rushing and fighting to get at the bucket. The direction of 
our march was such as to bring us to the capital on the north side, on the road 
leading to the Canton. 

At about noon of July 10 the head of our column crowned a fine swell of land 
to the northwest of the city, commanding a fine view of Jackson, which lay 
upon another similar elevation beyond a broad valley. 

In the valley between ran the Jackson & Grenada railroad, and along this ridge 
of land on which we halted was a broad road, north and south, known as the 
Livingston road, parallel with the railroad line. After a halt of an hour or 
more for dinner in the woods west of this road, at about 2 o'clock the head of 
our division debouched upon this ridge, in plain view of the city. The bat- 
teries attached to the division commenced taking up positions along the line of 
this highway, and the Ninth Corps with General S. W. Smith's division of the 
Sixteenth Corps, deployed along the line of the road; Smith's division on the 
right, Potter in the center and Welsh's division on the left. Of our division, 
the First Brigade, commanded by Colonel Henry Bowman of the Thirty-sixth 
Massachusetts, had the right and our (Third) brigade under Colonel Daniel 
Leasure, One Hundredth Pennsylvania, held the left. It was supposed that 
General Johnston could offer a strong resistance in defense of the capital of 
the state of the president of the Confederacy, and a severe battle was antici- 
pated. 

The Seventy-ninth New York, Colonel David Morrison commanding, was de- 
ployed as skirmishers, covering the front of the brigade. The day was lovely; 
the skies were blue and the meadows were "clad in living green," as the 
brigade came into line with colors unfurled and arms shining in the afternoon 
sun. 

The line of battle stretched away to our right in plain sight for more than a 
mile, through a succession of open fields, and it was as fine a pageant of war 
as eye ever rested upon. Presently, the line being in readiness, the order to ad- 
vance was given, and the divisions swept onward down through immense fields 
of tall corn, and then out into the grassy meadows and on to the railroad, and 
then into the dense woods beyond. The anticipated opposition was not met. 
A few shots were fired from a couple of small guns on the Canton road, north of 
the town, but did no harm. A few pickets or skirmishers near the railroad line 
opened a scattering fire and then quickly retreated up the hill. Our worst 
enemy was the heat, and when we reached the railroad a number of our men 
succumbed. 

Beyond the railroad the woods were so dense that it was quite impossible 
for the mounted officers to force their way through, and they were obliged 



60 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

to dismount and proceed on foot. In advancing through this dense wood, or 
"chapparal" as Colonel Leasure calls it in his report, it was found impossible 
to move in line and maintain, formation, so the order was given to advance 
"by right of companies to the front," and in this formation we came out on the 
Canton road, and found that we had become separated from the rest of the 
brigade. We regained our contact, and, swinging around by a right wheel, 
the brigade took position at right angles with the Canton road, in which forma- 
tion it advanced directly southward toward the city, until the state insane 
asylum had been reached and passed. Here a halt was made, as the left wing 
was advancing faster than the right, and by orders from General Sherman we 
bivouacked for the night. 

Before daylight of the eleventh the brigade was in line, and as soon as the sun 
was up the whole division advanced toward Jackson. Our brigade was under 
the personal command of Colonel Leasure. The Second Michigan covered the 
advance as skirmishers. The brigade passed through some woods, descended a 
long slope, receiving a light fire of musketry, and a few shots of artillery, 
crossed the bed of a small stream, nearly dry, climbed a steep bank just be- 
yond and entered the woods within about 400 yards of a battery which con- 
fronted us on the Canton road. This was known as the Cottonbale battery. 

It was the supposition of all the officers of the brigade, including the com- 
manding officer and Colonel Humphrey, commanding the skirmish line, that an 
assault was to be made on the enemy's line. 

The Twentieth changed position from the left to the right of the Canton road, 
and lay down in the woods, while grape and canister howled above us, bringing 
down a perfect shower of leaves and branches, but strange to relate, not a man 
of the regiment was hurt. 

The Second Michigan, which was on our left front, was pressing the skir- 
mishers of the enemy, when word came down the skirmish line from the right, 
"forward skirmishers, double quick,'" and the regiment — about 160 men — went 
forward in their usual gallant style, and not only drove back the rebel skirmish 
line but took their pits, and drove the reserve within their main line of defense. 
Their loss in the charge was nearly sixty. 

It seemed then that if the Ninth Corps had been ordered to assault, it might 
have carried the hill north of town, and rendered the city untenable for General 
Johnston, on that day. 

But it afterward appeared that it was no part of General Sherman's plan to 
make an assault on Jackson. 

In a letter written to General Grant on July 14, from his headquarters before 
Jackson, he says : "The works were too good to be assaulted, and orders were 
given to deploy and form line of circumvallation, about 1,500 yards from 
the enemy's parapets, with skirmishers close up, and their supports within 500 
yards." This passage relates to the operations of the eleventh. (Official Records, 
Vol. XXIX, part 2, page 525). 

Again, in his official report of the same operations, dated at camp on the Big 
Black, July 28, 1863, General Sherman says : "It was no part of the plan to 
assault the enemy's works, so the main bodies of infantry were kept well in re— 



MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN 61 



serve under cover, whilst the skirmishers were pushed forward as close as 
possible." (Same vol., page 535). 

The brigade occupied the position it had gained through the night, and at 
daylight of the twelfth was relieved by Potter's division. On the fourteenth, 
the First Division relieved the Second and on the sixteenth was again relieved 
by Potter's division as before. During this time there was much artillery 
practice, but little infantry firing. On the night of the sixteenth there was great 
noise and uproar in the city, and in the morning the town was found to be 
evacuated by Johnston's army and a large part of the inhabitants. 

That afternoon our brigade marched by a road leading north to Grant's ford 
on Pearl River, for the purpose of cutting off the retreat of a body of rebel 
cavalry said to be on the west side of that stream. But we neither saw nor heard 
anything of such a body, and the next morning we marched to Madison station 
on the Mobile & Ohio railroad, where we began destroying the railroad, working 
southward toward Jackson. The eighteenth we destroyed about two miles of 
road. The country in that vicinity was a beautiful agricultural section, the fields 
were one great sea of waving corn. 

Sunday, July 19, we moved south to a large plantation, belonging to a family 
by the name of Campbell. The men of the family and all the valuable negroes 
had gone to Georgia to escape the "Yankees." 

Here we found abundance; fine cattle in the pastures, a cotton gin bursting 
with cotton, hams and bacon in the smoke-house, and peaches and melons in 
the orchards and fields. 

That afternoon we received orders to report back to Jackson at once, and 
prepare to return to Milldale. We interpreted this to mean that we were to 
return north immediately. That evening we reached our old camp near the 
asylum, and that night occupied it for the last time. 

July 20 — The corps having been once more concentrated, started back toward 
Milldale, marching by way of Brownsville and thence to Messenger's Ford on 
the Big Black, and thence by Oak Ridge to Milldale, where the brigade en- 
camped on the afternoon of July 23 after an exceedingly hard march by reason of 
the heat and dust. The first day's march was as trying as any the regiment 
ever made and men were obliged to fall out, and were taken up by the ambu- 
lances or wagons. The marches on the twenty-first and twenty-second were not 
so hard, and the distance made not so great. On the twenty-second we crossed 
the Big Black River and camped in the woods on Oak Ridge, and on the twenty- 
third, made an easy march to camp. 

The number of the regiment who went on this expedition was 303, and, with 
the exception of a few who were overcome with heat, every man came back in 
better health than when he started. 

About. 180 had been left in camp at Milldale and Flower Hill unable to march. 
Many of these were found still sick and a few had died. 

Both the ground and the water at Milldale were exceedingly bad. Dysentery 
and fevers prevailed. The creek rose suddenly with a heavy shower and 
flooded the camp, which increased the sickness. 
Among the sick in camp was Dr. W. W. Paine, the assistant surgeon of the 



62 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



regiment, who died while on the trip up the Mississippi. The loss of the 
brigade in the expedition to Jackson was sixty-two. 

From July 24 until August 3 the regiment was in daily expectation of receiving 
orders to embark for the north, but it seemed impossible to secure the necessary 
boats. But on August 3, the welcome orders came, and at 2 o'clock p. m. the 
regiment marched to Snyder's Landing, just below Snyder's Bluff, where it went 
on board the steamer "Westmoreland," while the Second and Seventeenth Michi- 
gan embarked on the steamer "Ohio Belle." 

At 3 o'clock on the morning of August 4 we bade adieu to the murkey Yazoo, 
the "river of death," bound for Kentucky to resume the campaign so unexpectedly 
interrupted on June 4, just two months before. The regiment was placed on the 
upper deck of the steamer, while Edwards' battery (M. Third U. S.), occupied 
the main or lower deck. The Westmoreland was a poor boat, and sailing against 
the current the progress was slow. 

On the sixth Dr. Paine died, and that night the boat reached Memphis at 
dark, and the regiment was permitted to disembark and spend the night on 
shore. Most of them camped down on the streets near the levee. At Memphis, 
Lieutenant Lounsberry and a party of men who were left behind in Kentucky, 
met the regiment and returned with it. 

August 9— The regiment reached Cairo in the morning, and during the fore- 
noon took cars for Cincinnati, Ohio, where it arrived at about 9 a. m. on Tues- 
day, August 11, and marched to the Fifth Street Market to get dinner, thus 
completing the circuit since March 26, when we took breakfast at the same 
place on our way to Louisville. That afternoon we crossed the Ohio River to 
Covington, Kentucky. 

So ended the Mississippi campaign. We had traveled several thousand miles- 
since leaving Columbia on June 4, and had lost two officers and eighteen men 
by sickness, but none by battle. 

It was a very hard, trying, and exhausting experience, which left its per- 
manent marks upon those who survived. 

In fact, when we reached Kentucky again, we were little better than an 
"invalid corps." Many still suffered from the diseases contracted at Milldale, 
and more yet from very annoying and persistent sores upon the legs, thought to 
be produced by minute insects, called "jiggers," which penetrated under the 
skin. The Mississippi campaign was about as prolific of disease and death as 
the camp at Fredericksburg, though the morale and spirits of the camp did not 
suffer so much. 

In the appendix will be found the official report of Major General John G. 
Parke, commanding the Ninth Corps, and of Colonel Daniel Leasure, command- 
ing the brigade. No regimental reports were made, except that of the Second 
Michigan of their charge, July 11. 

During the Mississippi campaign our division was commanded by General 
Thomas Welsh, formerly colonel of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. 

The First Brigade, commanded by Colonel Henry Bowman, Thirty-sixth Mas- 
sachusetts, consisted of the following regiments: Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, 
Seventeenth Michigan, Twenty-seventh Michigan, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. 



MISSISSIPPI CAMPAIGN 63 



Our brigade was designated as the Third, commanded by Colonel Leasure, and 
consisted of the Second Michigan, Colonel William Humphrey; Eighth Michi- 
gan, Colonel Frank Graves ; Twentieth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel W. Hunt- 
ington Smith; Seventy-ninth New York, Colonel David Morrison; One Hun- 
dredth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Mathew M. Dawson. 

The Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts and Forty-sixth New 
York, under command of Colonel Christ, were attached to Potter's (Second) 
division of the third brigade. 



CHAPTER IX. . 

CINCINNATI TO KNOXVILLE. 
August ii, 1863. September 30, 1863. 

On August 11 we once more set foot on "the dark and bloody ground" of Ken- 
tucky. It was a gloomy and nasty day, and we were temporarily quartered in 
some filthy old barracks which had beer occupied since near the beginning of the 
war. 

The next day the regiment was paid off, and at 9 o'clock in the evening, took 
cars for Nicholasville, arriving at Cynthiana, soon after sunrise of the thirteenth, 
where we had breakfast. Passing through the beautiful blue-grass region and 
the city of Lexington, the home and burial place of Henry Clay, we arrived at 
Nicholasville, at about 3 o'clock p. m., and went into camp near the town. 

August 14— We marched at 7 o'clock to a point three miles south of Nicholas- 
ville, where, in the midst of a beautiful country, we settled down for a two 
weeks' rest and recuperation. Our camp was made in a beautiful open grove of 
stately oaks, in the midst of the "blue grass region," with a great abundance 
of springs of the purest water near at hand. 

The camp was named "Camp Parke," after our corps commander, and was 
located on the east side of the macadamized road, leading down to Hickman's 
Bridge, Camp Nelson, Crab Orchard, and on toward Cumberland Gap. 

At Cincinnati several of the officers had procured leaves of absence for twenty 
days to allow them to go to Michigan ; among these was Lieutenant Colonel W. 
Huntington Smith, commanding the regiment, and the command again devolved 
temporarily upon Major Cutcheon. 

Among the pleasant memories of its campaigns, the men of the regiment wdl 
always remember the days spent at Camp Parke. There was no enemy near, 
duties were light, and but for the number suffering from disease contracted in 
Mississippi, nothing could have been wished more pleasant in the way of sol- 
diering. The usual parades and inspections were maintained, and camp guards 
were kept up, but rather as a matter of discipline than of necessity. 

On August 20, 200 men were detailed with a proper complement of officers, 
with a like detail from the other regiments of the brigade, to proceed to Nich- 
olasville and thence escort the remains of Major General William Nelson to the 
place of permanent interment, at Camp Dick Robinson, where he had commanded 
the first Union camp in Kentucky. This detail took the greater part of the men 
who were able to march. The escort proceeded to Nicholasville, and then re- 
turned over the same road, passing through Camp Parke, and camped the first 
night at Camp Nelson, on the Kentucky River. August 21 they proceeded to 



CINCINNATI TO KNOXVILLE. 65 



Camp Dick Robinson where the ceremonies of burial were duly performed, and 
the escort was then entertained at a Kentucky "barbecue," at a place near by. 
A large number of sheep were roasted and served to the men. That night the 
escort, which was under the command of Major Cutcheon of the Twentieth, 
returned as far as Camp Nelson, where it spent the night. Many of the men 
pushed on to Camp Parke. August 22 the escort returned to Camp Parke, ar- 
riving by the middle of the forenoon. 

August 23— General Edward Ferrero took command of the division, which he 
retained throughout the fall and winter. He had formerly been colonel of the 
Fifty-first New York Volunteers, and was promoted for gallantry at the battle 
of Antietam. 

On August 2.7 orders were received to prepare to march in the morning and on 
the twenty-eighth we started for Crab Orchard, thirty-three miles further south, 
where there were springs of mineral water which it was hoped might be of 
benefit to those who were still in bad condition from the Mississippi campaign. 

That night we bivouacked at Camp Dick Robinson, and the next day passed 
through Lancaster, and on August 30, arrived at Crab Orchard, and, passing 
about two miles beyond the village, made our camp. 

We remained at this camp until September 10, while General Burnside, under 
whose command we now came once more, was pushing forward the Twenty-third 
Army Corps through the Gaps to the westward of Cumberland Gap, and moving 
upon Knoxville, the central point, and, in a sense, the capital of East Ten- 
nessee. 

At Crab Orchard Lieutenant Colonel Smith returned and resumed command 
of the regiment. 

The camp at Crab Orchard was not as pleasant as that at Camp Parke but 
the time was spent in the same way, in drills, inspections and picket and guard 
duty. The principal business was to rest and recuperate. The health of the 
command had greatly improved since we arrived in Kentucky, and a good many 
men had come up and joined who had been left behind, yet there were many in- 
valids still suffering from the diseases and troublesome sores contracted in the 
Mississippi campaign. 

On September 9 the expected order was received to prepare to march with 
eight days' rations and forty rounds of ammunition, which signified that we were 
bound for East Tennessee. On September 10 we marched to Mount Vernon 
the county seat of Rockcastle county. This was on the edge of the mountain 
country, and the roads began to be rough and difficult. On the eleventh the 
command started at 5 o'clock, having been awakened at half past three ' and 
marched sixteen miles to the Little Rockcastle River, where camp was made for 
the night. 

September 12— The division marched to within two miles of London county 
seat of Laurel county, where we camped and signed the pay roll, the paymaster 
having come up with the troops. The thirteenth being Sunday, the command 
rested. 

September 14— Passed through Loudon and marched to a point half way 



66 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

between Loudon and Barboursville. This day we met some 2,200 rebel prisoners, 
of General Frazer's brigade, recently captured at Cumberland Gap. 

The regiment arrived at Barboursville at noon on the fifteenth and camped one 
mile beyond. The next day we marched along the course of the Cumberland 
River, and camped ten miles from Barboursville. On the seventeenth the regi- 
ment was paid off, and remained in camp. On the eighteenth it rained and the 
division again remained in camp. On the nineteenth we crossed the Cumberland 
River, and on the next day, Sunday, September 20, we passed through Cumberland 
Gap, and descended the mountain into East Tennessee, and camped at its foot. 
In Cumberland Gap there was a small granite monument which marks the meet- 
ing point of three states — Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Here it was pos- 
sible for one to sit in three states at once, and several tried the experiment. 

Those of the Twentieth who were with the regiment on this march will not 
forget the magnificent views from the summit of the mountain at the Gap. 
The mountains and hills rose in ranges to the east like great waves, range on 
range, until the vision was bounded by the great Smoky Mountain of North 
Carolina, about a hundred miles away. The air was beautifully clear, and 
Clinch Mountains seemed only a few miles away. 

It had been only a few days since Cumberland Gap was captured. At the 
time we passed through there it was occupied by some regiments of the Twenty- 
third Corps. As we now enter on a new campaign it may be well here to recall 
the organization of the troops at this time. 

General A. E. Burnside was in supreme command of the Department of the 
Ohio, including the field of operations in Tennessee, and of the troops operating 
in the field, consisting of two divisions of the Ninth Corps and three divisions 
of the Twenty-third Corps and two brigades of cavalry, under the command of 
Major General George L. Hartsuff. 

The Ninth Corps was commanded by Brigadier General R. B. Potter, and the 
First Division by Brigadier General Edward Ferrero, while Colonel John F. 
Hartranft commanded the Second Division. 

First Brigade — Colonel Davis Morrison, Seventy-ninth New York. 
Second Brigade— Colonel Benjamin C. Christ, Fiftieth Pennsylvania. 
Third Brigade — Colonel Daniel Leasure, One Hundredth Pennsylvania. 

Second Michigan— Colonel William Humphrey. 

Seventeenth Michigan — Lieutenant Colonel Comstock. 

Twentieth Michigan — Lieutenant Colonel Smith. 

One Hundredth Pennsylvania — Lieutenant Colonel Dawson. 

These regiments averaged not far from 300 muskets each. The entire Ninth 
Corps numbered only about 6,000 men, all told. 

On the twenty-first of September we marched to and through Tazewell, and 
forded a branch of Clinch River, and camped beyond Sycamore. 

September 22 we forded the Clinch River, crossed the Clinch Mountains, then 
fording the Holston River, camped within a mile of Morristown, having 
marched twenty-two miles on this day. The next day we marched to the town 



CINCINNATI TO KNOXVILLE. 



67 



of Mornstown and took cars on the East Tennessee railroad to Greenville four 
teen imles northeast and within twelve miles of the North Carol nah ne 
Knoxvillt St ° P ,* GreenViHe ' the bngade a ^ ain took «™ and proceeded to 

o^he "h'e HoTt 011 tHe n T ing ° f SCPtember 24 ' a " d ^ "to «»P 
on the bank of the Ho ston nyer about half a mile above the town. 

The march from Crab Orchard had been made by easy stages and the com 

mand reached Knoxville in good condition. There we had unHmited supplies of 

pure a,r and water but rather limited allowance of rations, as eve^y p^nd 

Kentu ck y eS ^ * W3g ° nS ^ *» l " ° f the -Lad in 

Officers and men who had been left behind at Crab Orchard and other noints 

sTr^ed'ro g a e y th C ° ming l V ith K thC rCgiment ' and thC -operate mating "ad 
served to get the command ,„ better physical condition than if it had remained 

nact.ve in camp. Here, having reached a new field of operation we are r "dv 

for the next chapter, which will embrace the East Tennessee campaign " 



CHAPTER X. 



THE EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN. 

September 30, 1863. November 10. 1863. 

East Tennessee was one of the most loyal sections of the Union. Scarcely 
any northern state raised so large a per cent of Union troops for service against 
the rebellion as those counties of East Tennessee lying between the Cumberland 
Mountains and the border of North Carolina. 

Ever since the beginning of the war this section had been the object of the 
deepest solicitude to President Lincoln, not so much from a military and 
strategic, as from a political standpoint, and as affecting the status of the loyal 
people throughout the south. Again and again he had appealed to the military 
authorities to organize some relief and protection for these people, persecuted and 
harried as they were by their secession government and people. Early in 1862 
a movement was organized for this purpose, and Cumberland Gap was seized 
and held for some months, but when General Bragg and his army advanced 
into Kentucky in September of that year, General Morgan was obliged to aban- 
don his position at the Gap for fear of being caught between two forces and 
compelled to surrender. After General Burnside was relieved of the command 
of the Army of the Potomac, he was sent west to the Department of the Ohio, 
for the express purpose of holding Kentucky and redeeming East Tennessee. 

When the order came, in the first week in June, for the Ninth Corps to proceed 
to Mississippi, General Burnside was on the point of organizing his army to push 
forward into Tennessee. While the Ninth Corps was absent General John H. 
Morgan made his raid through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, and for a time 
again disarranged General Burnside's plans; but with the return of his old 
corps to Kentucky he at once gave the order for the advance. The Second 
Division of the Ninth Corps arrived at Covington on August 20 and on the same 
day the order for the movement of the Twenty-third Corps was given. 

On that date General Hartsuff's corps was stationed as follows : 

1— General Julius White's division at Columbia, Kentucky. 
2_General Haskell's division at Stanford, Kentucky. 
3— General Carter's division at Crab Orchard, Kentucky. 
4— Colonel Graham's brigade, cavalry, Glasgow, Kentucky. 
5— Colonel Wolford's brigade, cavalry, Somerset, Kentucky. 

These forces were ordered to move on three separate routes and concentrate 
at and near Kingston, Tennessee, about forty miles from Knoxville or Loudon. 
And there the concentration was made on or about September 1, and by Septem- 



EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN 



ber 4, both Knoxville and Loudon had been occupied in force, and Colonel De 
Courcey with a provisional brigade was closing in upon Cumberland Gap from 
the north while General Shackleford with a brigade of cavalry was moving to cut 
off the retreat of the garrison on the south. The result was that on September 
9, Cumberland Gap, with all its garrison, guns and material surrendered to Gen- 
eral Burnside. This was the very day on which our division received orders to 
march from Crab Orchard. 

For particulars of the march of the rest of the corps, see "Itinerary of Ninth 
Army Corps, August i -October 28," in the appendix. 

By September 30 the entire corps had arrived at Knoxville and was encamped 
in the immediate vicinity of that city. 

The strength of the corps was at this date a little less than 6,000 men (Offi- 
cial Records, Vol. XXX, part 2, p. 557). Our (First) division was divided into 
three brigades of four regiments each : 

First Brigade — Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, Eighth Michigan, Seventy-ninth 
New York and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. 

Second Brigade — Twenty-ninth Massachusetts, Twenty-seventh Michigan, 
Forty-sixth New York and Fiftieth Pennsylvania. 

Third Brigade — Second Michigan, Seventeenth Michigan, Twentieth Michigan 
and One Hundredth Pennsylvania. 

General Burnside was under orders from General Halleck to extend his right 
southward along the west bank of the Tennessee until he connected with the left 
of General Rosecrans' army, then at Chattanooga, and he was preparing to do so 
when in the early days of October Major General Samuel Jones of the Con- 
federate Army with about 6,000 men advanced from the direction of Jonesboro, 
near the Virginia line, and threatened General Burnside's line of supply and com- 
munication via Cumberland Gap. The first necessity, therefore, of General 
Burnside's situation was to meet and repel this column of General Jones, and 
clear his left flank and rear, before extending his right toward Chattanooga. 

This was the situation of the East Tennessee campaign at the beginning of 
October, 1863. 

On September 28 our brigade had crossed to the south side of the Holston 
and bivouacked about a mile and a half from the river, where we lay quietly 
in camp, doing picket duty to the south until October 8. On that day we 
recrossed the Holston in the morning, and marched to the railroad station, 
where we lay waiting transportation until the morning of the ninth. Friday 
morning, October 9, 1863, we took the cars at 9 o'clock and at 10 o'clock started 
for Bull's Gap, where we arrived just at evening, and disembarked and 
bivouacked for the night. Generals Burnside and Parke (who was chief of 
staff), Potter, commanding the corps, and Ferrero, commanding the First Divi- 
sion, all accompanied the troops. 

Early next morning we were up and on the move. The cavalry pushed the 
enemy's advance back as far as Blue Springs, about nine miles from Greenville. 
By 11 o'clock, October 10, the head of our corps reached the hills overlooking 
the little hamlet of Blue Springs, just beyond which the rebels occupied a low 
range of hills, where the road to Greenville made a sharp turn to the right. 



7 o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

The cavalry went in as skirmishers, but were not expected to do more than 
develop the enemy's position and discover their weak points, and the most avail- 
able line of attack. 

At the time we thought the attack of the cavalry very feeble and in- 
effective, and so it was ; but it afterward proved that this was only a feint to 
hold the enemy, under General John S. Williams, in position while Colonel John 
W. Foster with a brigade of union cavalry could make a detour around their 
right, by way of Rogersville, and come in upon their rear between Greenville and 
Rheatown, so that they would thus be practically surrounded. It was near 
4 o'clock when our division marched down through the village and our 
brigade turned to the right along a narrow crest around the extremity of 
which the Greenville road deflected. The position of the enemy extended 
from beyond the wagon road on their right across and beyond the railroad upon 
their left. 

The force of the enemy consisted of the brigade of General John S. Williams, 
with one battery of four guns, and a small brigade under Major General A. E. 
Jackson, composed mostly of home guards. (See report of General Williams, 
Official Record, Vol. XXX, part 2, page 639). 

The First Brigade of our division under Colonel Morrison, Seventy-ninth New 
York, had the right of the line; our brigade (the Third) under Colonel Leasure, 
One Hundredth Pennsylvania, the center, and the Second Brigade under Colonel 
Christ held the left. The advance was made in fine style, and the enemy easily 
pushed pack, with but slight loss. The resistance was more stubborn in front 
of the First Brigade than elsewhere. The total loss of the division was only 
fifty-nine. 

During the night preparations were made for a vigorous attack the first thing 
in the morning, but the Rebel commander had got wind of the movement of 
Colonel Foster to his rear, and early in the night began to withdraw to Green- 
ville, and at daybreak continued his retreat on Rheatown. Before reaching there 
he came upon Foster's brigade in position, but the latter, instead of making a 
determined stand, allowed himself to be pushed off the line of retreat, and the 
enemy's force to escape. 

General Burnside pursued vigorously with his whole force, infantry, cavalry 
and artillery. The cavalry came up with the retreating rebel force near Rhea- 
town, and a running fight ensued, but General Williams with the brigade of 
Jackson made good his escape to Jonesboro, and thence to Bristol. We pushed 
on to Rheatown and a little beyond, where we bivouacked for the night and 
rested until Tuesday, October 13, when we set out to return to Knoxville. 
Camped that night three miles from Blue Springs ; on the fourteenth marched 
to Bull's Gap; on the fifteenth to Morristown, where, on the sixteenth we took 
cars, arriving at Knoxville at about 2 p. m. the same day, having been absent 
just a week. In the fight at Blue Springs our regiment was fortunate, having 
only one man killed and two wounded. We camped at Knoxville in a grove east 
of town near First Creek. 

Remained in camp at Knoxville until October 20th when we set out for Lou- 
don, marching out on the Kingston road until we came to the forks near Camp- 



EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN n 



bell's Station, where we took the Loudon road and passing through Lenoir 
Station camped on the 21 st between Lenoir and Loudon Bridge, and on the 
22d arrived at Loudon, crossed the river, passed through the village, and camped 
in the fields, perhaps a mile from the bridge. The Tennessee River at this point 
is a broad stream, and the railroad bridge had been destroyed by the Confed- 
erates. A very substantial pontoon bridge had been constructed by the Engineer 

Corps. 

We remained at Loudon supporting the cavalry in their reconnaissances until 
October 28th when we recrossed the river to the north side and marched back 
to Lenoir Station, and went into camp in a piece of woods about half a mile 
northeast of the village. 

Here we were directed to make ourselves as comfortable quarters as we could, 
and the next few days were occupied in building huts with such material as 
we could get hold of. 

The men had just completed their huts and got moved into them, when about 
midnight of November 6th we were ordered to turn out at once, and prepare 
to move on the railroad. 

We moved to the station and, after standing for two or three hours in mud 
and darkness, the cars arrived and we embarked at daylight for Knoxville. 

During the early part of the day we remained on board the cars, but in the 
afternoon disembarked and bivouacked for the night on the high ground north 
of the railroad station. 

The occasion of our sudden movement was the surprise and capture of the 
larger part of the Seventh Ohio Cavalry and Second Tennessee Mounted Infan- 
try and Phillip's battery of four guns, at Rogersville, on the 6th. 

We remained at Knoxville, ready to move at any moment, until November 
9th, when we again took the cars and returned to Lenoir Station and reoccupied 
our old camp. This ends the first period of the East Tennessee campaign. 
Marked by much marching, little fighting, and less rations. During the period 
after we moved to Loudon the season had been very rainy and disagreeable, and 
the roads had become almost impassible. When we returned to the camp at 
Lenoir it was with the hope and expectation of a long period of rest and quiet. 
But that hope was destined not to be realized. 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN— CAMPBELL'S STATION. 

November 10, 1863. November 16, 1863. 

November 10, 1863, found us snugly ensconced in our log cabins at Lenoir 
Station, with our forces in peaceable possession from Loudon on the southwest, 
to Greenville on the northeast. General Burn side and his headquarters were at 
Knoxville, and the two small divisions of the Ninth Corps, now numbering 
about 5,900 men, all told, were encamped at and about Lenoir Station. Gen- 
eral Julius White, with the Second Division of the Twenty-third Corps, and a 
small brigade of cavalry, consisting of the Eighth Michigan Cavalry and One 
Hundreth and Twelfth Illinois Mounted Infantry, was encamped at Loudon. 

The men of the camp had settled down to the belief that we were to enjoy a 
long rest, and that Lenoir, on the line of the Tennessee, was to be our "winter 
quarters." But this dream of comfort was destined to be rudely disturbed. 

On the 10th Colonel Leasure, commanding the brigade, was detached and or- 
dered to Cincinnati on special duty, and did not again rejoin. Colonel William 
Humphrey, of the Second Michigan Infantry, was assigned to the command 
of the brigade, as senior officer. 

November nth the regiment was routed out before daylight and stacked arms 
on the color line and were ordered to be ready to fall in at a moment's notice. 

The same thing occurred on the 12th and on the 13th. We did not then under- 
stand the occasion for this precaution. On the morning of the 14th orders came 
to break camp and prepare to move to Knoxville. 

The regimental baggage was mostly loaded upon wagons and ordered toward 
Knoxville. 

By the middle of the forenoon General Julius White with his division arrived 
at Lenoir, from Loudon, falling back in the direction of Knoxville. 

At about the same time General Burnside and his staff appeared, coming by 
special train from Knoxville, and a consultation was immediately held. It soon 
became known that General Longstreet with his army corps of the Confederate 
Army together with General Wheeler's division of cavalry had arrived at or near 
Loudon the night of the 13th and was supposed to be then crossing the Tennes- 
see River a few miles below that place, at a point called Huff's (or Hough's) 
Ferry, and that it was General Burnside's orders to hold them in check as long 
as possible. Accordingly at about noon of the 14th everything was faced about 
and put in motion toward Loudon. 

The roads were in fearful condition from frequent rains, and already much 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN 73 



cut up by the movement of General White's trains and artillery. At about 4 
p: m. the head of the column reached a point opposite Loudon, and skirmishing 
then commenced, Chapin's brigade of White's division leading the advance. 

Huff's Ferry was about five miles by the road on the north side, beyond the 
site of the railroad bridge, and the enemy's pickets and skirmishers were pushed 
briskly back and driven into the woods around Huff's Ferry. 

It was nearly dark when Ferrero's division pushed up the long slope of the 
hill in front of the Ferry, and the enemy was found in foice and in too good 
a position to be dislodged. 
That night we lay upon our arms, supperless, fireless and sleepless. 
Before daylight General Burnside gave orders to withdraw, having decided to 
draw Longstreet onto Knoxville, and make his fight there rather than in the 
open field at Huff's Ferry, or thereabouts. Even before the first break of day 
of the 15th we withdrew as quietly as possible from the wooded hills where we 
had spent the night, and by sunrise we had reached the open place near the 
Loudon Bridge. The Second Brigade of General White's division of the Twenty- 
third Corps covered the withdrawal, and just before reaching Loudon had a 
sharp skirmish with the advance of the enemy, in an effort to save a caisson 
which had become stalled in the mud. The road was, if possible, in a worse 
condition than on the previous day. 

At Loudon Chapin's brigade passed to the front, and Seigfried's brigade of 
Hartranft's division covered the rear. The whole column now retired to Le- 
noir Station, reaching there at about noon. Soon after noon, the Twentieth 
was sent back about two miles to a point where the telegraph road from Kings- 
ton came in from the north, with orders to hold that junction until the Second 
Division had passed that point, and then report back. 

The regiment moved back quickly, and covered the withdrawal of the Second 
Division, and then returned to Lenoir, where it was put in position on the 
extreme left of the line, which extended in a semi-circle around the village of 
Lenoir, covering the roads from Loudon to Kingston, on which the enemy's 
force was advancing. This was Sunday. 

As we lay there, tired, sleepy, muddy and hungry, we could not help thinking 
of our comfortable huts hardly more than a mile away, which we had built 
with so much care and labor, and left only twenty-four hours before. 

That afternoon and evening the enemy attacked our pickets several times in 
order to determine whether we were still in force. The men were forbidden to 
build fires or to lay aside their arms. The night was frosty and a cold fog hung 
thick over the valley. 

Between 3 and 4 o'clock on the morning of the 16th our brigade, consisting of 
the Second, Seventeenth and Twentieth Michigan-the One Hundredth Pennsyl- 
vania having been detached as escort to the trains back to Knoxville-withdrew 
to a point near to our old camp. 

On November 20th the strength of the full brigade was officially reported at 
803. And as the loss at Campbell's Station on the 16th was 145, and the losses 
at Knoxville prior to the 20th, would make this up to 150, it would seem that 



74 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



the strength of the three Michigan regiments of the brigade on the 16th, in the 
absence of the One Hundredth Pennsylvania, could not have exceeded 650 or 
700 men. 

At a point near the military railroad station at Lenoir, a train of Wagons be- 
longing to White's division of the Twenty-third Corps, had been abandoned 
by order of General Burnside, in order that the teams might be used in hauling 
the artillery of the Ninth Corps, which had been stalled in the mud, and these 
wagons were ordered to be destroyed. 

A part of the Twentieth Michigan was detailed for the work of destruction. 
The wagons were in part loaded with officers' baggage, and in part with rations, 
and two or three with ammunition. The wheels of the wagons were cut down, 
the tongues chopped off and the ammunition thrown into a nearby pond. The 
men engaged in the destruction saved as much of the rations as they could con- 
veniently dispose about their persons, and these articles, thus saved from destruc- 
tion, stood them in good stead during the days of the siege of Knoxville, from 
November 17th to December 5th. 

At the break of day on the 16th the Confederates advanced, to find only a 
skirmish line in front of them. They captured one company of an Ohio regiment 
who had been on the advance picket line, and who had not been notified to 
withdraw. All the troops excepting Humphrey's brigade were now well on 
their way toward Campbell's Station, at which place, near the junction of the 
Kingston and Loudon roads, General Burnside had decided to make a stand, 
in order to give his trains time to reach Knoxville, also to give one day more to 
prepare the defense of that place. Those who wish to study this campaign from 
the inside, and see the motives and purposes which actuated General Burnside, 
can find it all in the Official Records of the Rebellion, Vol. XXXI, part 1, be- 
ginning at page 255. But here it is all we can do to trace the part of the 
Twentieth Michigan with its absolutely necessary relations to the other parts of 
the army. The official reports of General Potter, commanding the corps, of Gen- 
eral Ferrero, commanding the division, and of Colonel William Humphrey, com- 
manding the brigade, of the battle of Campbell's Station, are so full and satis- 
factory that only a brief narrative will be given here. 

The three Michigan regiments, with one section of Roemer's battery, had been 
designated by General Ferrero as rearguard, and soon after it was fully day- 
light it took the road, the guns in advance, the Second Michigan in the lead, 
the Twentieth following and the Seventeenth in the rear. If the roads had been 
bad the day before, they were well-nigh impassible on the 16th. Much of 
the time we marched outside the road through the fields and woods. 

The enemy, though almost constantly in sight, made no attack of consequence, 
until we reached a point about two miles south of the village of Campbell's 
Station, in front of a small stream called "Turkey Creek." 

Here, they attempted by a front attack to hold us from joining the main body 
at Campbell's Station, while a flanking force could be pushed around our left, 
with the purpose of cutting us off. 

The Seventeenth Michigan formed in line of battle in front of the creek, while 
the Twentieth and Second crossed, and formed on a hill just back of the same; 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN 75 

the Second on the right and the Twentieth on the left of the road, as we 
faced the rear. Here the brigade became warmly engaged, the Seventeenth suf- 
fering severely. 

That regiment moved to the left and forded the creek, and, passing around 
the left flank of the Twentieth, reached the road and retired .down the same a 
few hundred yards to the line of a piece of woods, where they took up a new 
position. 

Here, the Second and Twentieth, retiring in excellent order, by successive 
movements took their positions on the right of the Seventeenth, the Twentieth 
being immediately on the left of the road and the Second on the right. 

Here the fight was renewed with increased fury, and almost immediately the 
regiment suffered its greatest loss in the death of Lieutenant Colonel W. Hunting- 
ton Smith, who fell pierced through the brain with a rebel bullet. Colonel Smith 
was in every respect a model soldier. Cool in action, considerate in camp, at all 
times courageous ; his excellent example inspired cheerfulness under hardship, 
and resolute devotion to duty. The Twentieth lost a number of grand men, all 
deserving of high honor and lasting remembrance, but Colonel Smith does not 
rank second to any one of them in all that goes to make up a good soldier. His 
body was carried from the field by the ambulance corps and sent home. 

After the fall of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, Major Cutcheon assumed com- 
mand, and with the exception of thirty days that he was ordered to Michigan 
-on recruiting duty, was continuously on duty as commanding officer until he was 
wounded at Spottsylvania Court House, May 10, 1864. 

The three regiments now fell back into the woods., when the enemy again at- 
tempted to turn our left flank. Colonel Humphrey ordered a charge, and the 
Seventeenth and Twentieth went forward with a dash and drove them out of 
the woods. Under cover of this success we fell back in perfect order from the 
woods and across a wide field until we reached the line of Hartranft's Second 
Division, then sharply engaged on the Kingston road, just past the junction. 

Here, we moved to the right of the road, in support of Chapin's brigade of the 
Twenty-third Corps, where for the first and only time in our history, we came 
into touch with the Twenty-third Michigan, which came from the district next 
adjoining our own and left the state at about the same time. 

It was past noon when we were relieved, and retired from the front line, and 
placed in reserve in a slight hollow where a small stream crossed the road. 
Here, General Ferrero, whom we had not before seen since crossing Turkey 
Creek, rode down in front of the brigade and made them a little speech, thanking 
them for the gallant fight they had made. 

We remained in reserve until near night, when we passed through the ancient 
village of Campbell's Station (where Admiral Farragut was born), and took 
position in support of the batteries upon an eminence to the northward of that 
station. An attempt to dislodge us was repulsed by the batteries. As soon as 
it was dark we took up the march to Knoxville, where we arrived at about 5 
o'clock on the morning of the 17th tired, hungry, footsore, sleepy, and nearly 
exhausted. 

The total loss of the regiment at Campbell's Station was 37, but it is safe to 



7 6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



say that the loss of Colonel Smith was greater to the regiment than all the rest.— 
killed, 3; wounded, 30; missing, 4. So ends the campaign of Campbell's Station. 

The present seems to be a proper opportunity to record a few words of appre- 
ciation of Colonel William Humphrey, of the Second Michigan. This was the 
first occasion on which he commanded the brigade in action, though he com- 
manded it frequently afterwards. 

He entered the service as captain in the Second Michigan, April 25, 1861, one 
of the original officers of that regiment. He served with distinguished gallantry 
and ability through the Peninsular campaign of 1862, and came into the same 
brigade with the Twentieth on November 15, 1862. At Lebanon, Kentucky, in 
April, 1863, he received his commission as colonel, having been promoted 
from captain over Major Cornelius Byington and Lieutenant Colonel Louis Dill- 



man. 



He remained colonel of that regiment until mustered out, September 30, 
1864. August 1, 1864, he was appointed brigadier general by brevet "for con- 
spicuous and gallant Service both as regimental and brigade commander through- 
out the campaign." He continued to command the brigade until January 11, 
1864, when his regiment "veteranized." 

He was again assigned to the command at the battle of Spottsylvania Court 
House, May 12, 1864, and again on June 19, 1864, after the wounding of Colonel 
Christ on the 18th at Petersburg, Virginia. He commanded the brigade from 
that date until September 29, 1864 in the trenches of Petersburg, the battles of 
the Crater, Weldon Railroad, and Ream's Station. He proved himself always, 
as at Campbell's Station, a courageous, clear-headed and capable commander. In 
civil life he was as capable as in military commnad. He was elected auditor 
general in 1866, and held that office for four terms of two years each. He died 
in January, 1899, after a long, useful and honorable career. 



CHAPTER XII. 



SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE— FORT SANDERS. 

November 17, 1863. November 29, 1863. 

If it were put to a vote of the living members of the Twentieth Michigan 
to say which was the hardest day's march in their experience, it is probable that 
the majority would select the march from Lenoir Station to Knoxville, Novem- 
ber 16 and 17, 1863. The distance of more than twenty-four miles was made 
in a little less than twenty-four hours, during eight of which they were con- 
stantly under fire, and for two hours were engaged in a desperate struggle with 
a force fully ten times their own, supplied with artillery and accompanied by 
cavalry so superior to our own that we were in constant danger of being out- 
flanked and our line of retreat cut off. 

As heretofore stated, the condition of the roads was such as to render them al- 
most impassible, and to add to the difficulty, the night of the 16th was intensely 
dark, and every stream was swollen beyond its usual stage. Besides, this was the 
third night that the men had been practically without sleep. At Huff's Ferry and 
at Lenoir they had not been permitted to lay aside knapsacks or arms, and during 
the night march from Campbell's Station to Knoxville were not even allowed to 
fall out of the ranks. If they slept at all, it was only for a few moments at 
a time, snatched during brief delays, and perhaps standing in a fence corner. 
Then, too, their only rations were such as they had taken in their haversacks 
on leaving camp at Lenoir on the morning of the 14th, and such as some of 
them managed to save from the destruction of the wagon train on the morning 
of the 16th. 

When, therefore, our brigade climbed the hill on which stood the fort afterward 
known as Fort Sanders, they were about as completely exhausted as any body 
of troops well could be. 

When the word was passed along the column that they would now be per- 
mitted to rest for a short time, most of them unrolled their blankets just where 
they stood, and in a few moments were sleeping the deep sleep of exhaustion. 

When we were awakened, some two hours later, the sun was up and the several 
divisions and brigades were moving into positions for the defense of Knox- 
ville. The town is situated on the north or northwest bank of Holston River 
and surrounded by a succession of hills which tend to make the place easily de- 
fensible. Three small streams, known as First Creek, Second Creek and Third 
Creek, flow from the northwest in a generally parallel course into the Holston, 
First Creek through the middle of the town, Second Creek through the western 
part, near College Hill, and Third Creek about half a mile west of the town, 



78 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



crossing the Loudon road beyond Fort Sanders. The Loudon or Kingston road 
enters the town from the southwest on a course nearly parallel with the river. 
As it nears the town it rises over a considerable ridge between Second and Third 
Creeks, known as White's Hill, the most commanding portion of this hill being 
from one hundred to two hundred yards north of the road. Five or six hundred 
yards further east, between the road and the river was College Hill, crowned 
with the college buildings, around which was constructed a redoubt for artillery, 
known as College Hill Battery. 

The engineers, under the direction of General (then Captain) O. M. Poe, 
chief of engineers on General Burnside's staff, had in advance located and marked 
on the ground a line of works, following College Hill, White's Hill, and the ridge 
connecting it with an eminence known as Temperance Hill, on the north of the 
city, beyond the station of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. 

The most important work of defense was a half finished star fort on White's 
Hill, which had been commenced by the Confederates under General Buckner, 
and known to them as Fort Loudon. Captain Poe had improved this, but did not 
have time to complete it before the siege. 

This fort, known to us as Fort Sanders, was the key to the defensive positions, 
sweeping with its guns the space to the river on its left, the open slopes and hills 
in front, and enfilading the approach to our line on our right nearly or quite to 
the point where Second Creek crossed the railroad, beyond the station, near 
which the right of our division rested. The division took up positions in the 
following order: The First Brigade, Colonel Morrison, commanding, from Hol- 
ston River to Loudon road; the Third Brigade, Colonel William Humphrey, 
commanding, left resting on Loudon road, extending through Fort Sanders and 
joining Christ's brigade midway between the fort and the railroad station; the 
Second Brigade, extending from the right of the Third Brigade to Second 
Creek; Hartranft's division was on the right of ours. 

From a point in front (west) of the fort around to the right of our division, 
the railroad ran along the base of the hill, so that the intrenchments were nearly 
parallel with it. 

Benjamin's Battery of twenty-pounder Parrott guns occupied the west front 
of the fort, commanding the Loudon road, the space between it and the river, 
and around to the northwest and north to and beyond the Clinton road, on our 
right. 

Buckley's Rhode Island Battery of twelve-pounder brass Napoleon guns occu- 
pied the rear face of the fort, commanding the valley of Second Creek in rear of 
the fort and the approaches to College Hill, as well as Colonel Morrison's line, 
nearly to the river. One section of Roemer's New York Battery was placed in 
semi-circular redoubts immediately on the right of the fort, sweeping the slopes 
in front of the north angle of Sanders, and enfilading the space between the 
works and the railroad on our right. 

Along this line of defense, on the morning of November 17th every man who 
could be provided with a pick, shovel or spade, was set at work upon the 
entrenchments. All day long they toiled like beavers, and by night had a very 
good line of works. The regiments of the brigade were posted as follows : 



SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE 79 

One Hundredth Pennsylvania, from Loudon road to the fort ; Twentieth Michi- 
gan, two companies in the unfinished north star of the fort, the other companies 
extending to the right, in front of and to the right of Roemer's guns and con- 
necting with the Seventeenth and Second Michigan on our right. The Seventy- 
ninth New York of the First Brigade was also in the fort. 

The official reports of General Ferrero, Colonel Humphrey and Major Cutch- 
eon, made within a few days after the occurences, will be found in the 
appendix, and are so full as to render a detailed account of the siege unnecessary 
here, but for the sake of a connected narrative, a brief summary is here given. 

Toward evening of the 17th the enemy began to make his appearance on the 
Loudon road, and moved columns toward our right along a ridge about 1,000 
or 1,500 yards west of our line. On the morning of the 18th General W. P. 
Sanders with his brigade of cavalry was holding the position at the Armstrong 
House on a prominent swell of ground, about a mile from the fort on the Lou- 
don road. Here he was attacked by the enemy's infantry in force and forced 
back from his first position, but rallied a part of his force on a nearer hill, where 
soon after he fell mortally wounded, at the head of his troops. 

This fight was within plain sight from the fort, where we were stationed, 
and which from that day, by order of General Burnside, took the name of Fort 
Sanders. 

General Sanders was a most gallant officer. He had been colonel of a Ten- 
nessee regiment and was only recently promoted to brigadier general. He was a 
graduate of West Point Academy and was a classmate of our old commander, 
General O. M. Poe. 

The same evening our cavalry on the north of the Holston fell back within the 
fortifications and the investment of Knoxville was begun. On the evening of 
the 20th of December the Seventeenth Michigan made a sortie and drove out 
the rebel picket from a house about 800 yards in advance of Fort Sanders, on 
the Loudon road, and set fire to the buildings. While they were returning to 
our line, the light of the burning buildings disclosed their position to the enemy, 
who shelled them vigorously, with the result that Lieutenant Billingsly and one 
other were killed and four men wounded. 

This unfortunate event happened when the regiment was almost within its 
lines. 

During the following day our regiment built a new line of breastworks fur- 
ther back on the crest of the hill, and moved back, filling up the old rifle pit. On 
the 21st it rained heavily all day and the new pits were converted into mud holes. 

On the 23d it was discovered that during the previous night the enemy had run 
a rifle pit from a piece of woods beyond the railroad on our left front, into the 
open field directly in front of the fort. 

Bushes from the woods had been set up along the parapet of the rifle pit, and 
from behind this screen the rebel sharpshooters commenced firing upon every one 
seen moving within our works. 

General Ferrero determined to dislodge these sharpshooters, and directed Col- 
onel Humphrey as soon as it was daylight next morning, to send a regiment and 
take and hold the pits. 



80 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Colonel Humphrey selected the Second Michigan, commanded by Major Cor- 
nelius Byington, for the duty. 

At about 7 o'clock on the morning of the 24th the Second moved out of our 
works and formed in line in the railroad cut, directly in front of the Twentieth, 
our skirmishers on that line being ordered to support the movement. The 
Second charged across the field in most gallant style, but the men began to fall 
the moment they left the railroad cut. It was a thrilling sight to see those brave 
men go forward in the face of almost certain destruction. They charged about 
300 yards, and what was left of them threw themselves upon the enemy's rifle 
pit, but at once found themselves enfiladed by a furious fire from the woods upon 
the left. They held on there for about thirty minutes, and those that were left 
then fell back to the railroad, having lost almost one-half of their number, in- 
cluding Major -Byington, mortally wounded, Adjutant Noble killed, and three 
other officers wounded. The total loss was 86 in killed, wounded and missing. 

On November 25 the enemy attacked some of our works on the summit of a 
high hill on the south side of the river, in plain sight from our position and 
about 2,000 yards distant. While Captain W. D. Wiltsie, of Company H, was 
watching the progress cf this fight through a field-glass, standing near regi- 
mental headquarters, he was picked off by a rebel sharpshooter from the woods 
on our left front. The bullet entered near the spine and produced paralysis 
of the lower part of the body and legs. He was carried to the Court House hos- 
pital, where he died on the night of the 27th meeting his fate with heroic for- 
titude. Captain Wiltsie was one of the most valuable officers of the regiment, 
and his death was a great loss to the command and to the service. Captain Mc- 
Collum, who succeeded him in command, says in his diary: "The captain felt 
from the first that he had received a mortal wound. He regretted that it was not 
his privilege to die on the field instead of being cut down in such a murderous 
way. He exhibited remarkable coolness and self-possession. He entrusted me 
with his effects and instructed me in regard to the settlement of his accounts. 
He wished his son to have his sword, and with it fight for his country, were it 
ever assailed by traitors." 

There was no more heroic or manly death in the history of the regiment than 
that of Captain Wendell D. Wiltsie. 

On the same evening Lieutenant Colonel Lorin L. Comstock, commanding the 
Seventeenth Michigan, next on our right, was also shot by a long range sharp- 
shooter, and fell mortally wounded. He died the same night. Thus, each of the 
three Michigan regiments lost its commanding officer; Smith of the Twentieth, 
on the 16th ; Byington of the Second, on the 24th, and Comstock of the Seven- 
teenth, on the 25th. It became evident from the movements of the enemy on 
the 26th and 27th, the posting of batteries on the south side, the activity of sharp- 
shooters and other indications, that the crisis of the siege was now near at hand, 
and that an assault might be expected any day. 

It was expected by us that the assault would be made at daybreak, and there- 
fore each morning before dawn the whole command, on the line of our divi- 
sion, stood to arms in the trenches until it was fully daylight, so as to be ready 
for any movement of the enemy. 



SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE 81 

But everything remained about as usual until the evening of the 28th. A 
brief description of the location is here necessary. 

The rounded hill upon which Fort Sanders stood had recently been covered 
with standing timber, mostly second-growth pine, with now and then a large 
oak tree interspersed. This timber had been chopped down, with the exception 
of a few trees, and the small trees used in making platforms and revetments 
for the fort, and the tops and branches of the large oaks utilized in constructing 
an abatis in front. 

The fort itself had been designed by a skillful engineer as a star bastioned 
fort. The south and west fronts were well advanced toward completion ; 
the southwest bastion was practically completed. The north half was only 
just begun, and amounted to no more than a breastwork. A ditch about 
ten feet wide and of varying depth, surrounded the completed part. The 
railroad ran past at the foot of the hill 200 to 300 yards distant, and beyond 
this was the piece of woods on the left front, before referred to, affording cover 
for massing a large body of troops. 

In front of the fort in the direction of the woods were many small stumps 
standing, and a quantity of telegraph wire had been run from stump to stump 
in several concentric lines, so as to form a formidable obstruction to a force at- 
tacking in the dark or in the dim light of early morning. This was known as 
the "tangle" or "entanglement." 

At about 10:30 on the night of November 28 (Saturday), a sudden attack was 
made upon our pickets all along the line in front of the fort, from the Loudon 
road to the Clinton road, on the right of our brigade, and many of them made 
prisoners. Those not taken or wounded fell back to the fort and to the lines on 
either side. Before midnight a new picket line was established near the foot 
of the hill on the near side of the railroad. In restoring the line Lieutenants 
Wortley and Lounsberry rendered excellent service. A number of buildings in 
front of Christ's brigade were fired, producing quite a conflagration, which for a 
time lighted up the scene brilliantly. By midnight, matters had quieted down, 
but the men remained in the trenches, as we now felt certain the assault was at 
hand. 

Occasionally the rebel batteries, recently planted on the south side of the river, 
would open their guns and fire a few shots, either as signals or to keep us stirred 
up. Before daylight Captain Roemer opened with two guns of his battery, shell- 
ing the woods on our right, and a shell bursting at the muzzle of one of the 
guns killed one of our men in Company H and mortally wounded one in Com- 
pany K. 

The night was cold and frosty and toward morning a dense white fog settled 
over all the valleys, reaching nearly up to the fort. Over all the low lands 
and in the hollows between the hills it lay like a vast sea of milk. 

The day was just dawning and the light was still struggling with the fog when 
out of the mist on the left front of the fort toward the woods beyond the rail- 
road, came the sound of rapid picket firing, almost smothered in the fog. The 
firing was accompanied and followed by a rather feeble rebel yell. 

From our position on the right of the fort we had a clear view of the slope above 
6 



82 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



the fog on the west front of the salient, and watching intensely in the direction of 
the firing and yelling, we presently saw a column of rebel troops burst out of the 
mist, coming on at the double-quick, directly toward the completed bastion of the 
fort. On they came, in column of battalions, line on line, brigade on brigade, 
with arms at trail, heads down, with little or no yelling, but with a steady 
tramp, tramp, tramp, and a low '"hep, hep, hep," they rushed forward in an 
apparently irresistible surge toward the west front of Fort Sanders. The mo- 
ment they showed out of the fog the fort opened with canister and shrapnel, cut- 
ting gaps in the advancing column. But still they came on without hesitation 
or wavering, until the leading line struck the wire entanglement, which they had 
failed to notice in the dim light and the fog, and many of them went down in 
confusion and disorder. The impetus of the charge was broken, and it was 
well-nigh impossible to regain formation. 

At the same moment, the musketry opened from the fort and from the breast- 
works on the right and left, and added its leaden hail to the deadly work of the 
artillery. 

The ground around the salient was almost piled with the fallen, and yet the 
supporting lines pressed forward until the ditch was reached, into which they 
leaped. The storming column struck the fort at the point where the ditch was 
widest and deepest and the parapet highest and most difficult of access. The 
ditch was soon almost filled with the living and the dying mingled together. 

While this first mass was still struggling in the attempt to reach and scale 
the parapet, a second column, of a brigade, in like formation, rushed up the slope 
further to the north and nearer to our position. From their position the left 
companies of the Twentieth Michigan. A and D. had an unobstructed flank fire into 
the left flank of the advancing column without themselves receiving any consider- 
able fire in return, which opportunity they improved to the fullest extent. The 
moment the assault had developed, Co. C, of the Twentieth, by order of Colonel 
Humphrey, went on a double-quick into the fort, and were stationed in the as- 
saulted salient, where they rendered most gallant service. Co. D at the left of the 
regiment extended within a few feet of the right embrasure of the fort. The gun 
at this embrasure could not rake the ditch. After the Confederates had reached 
the ditch and were trying to scale the fort. Captain Grant placed several of his 
men at this embrasure to repel those who were trying to reach the parapet. 

In vain the assailants sought to climb the parapets ; as fast as they showed 
their heads above the line of fire they were tumbled into the ditch. In vain their 
officers sought to persuade or drive them to renew the attempt ; the task was hope- 
less, and at the end of forty-five minutes from the time the first shot was fired, 
the battle of Fort Sanders was over. 

Never was assault more gallantly or persistently delivered, and never one more 
completely and decisively repulsed. 

Three battle flags. 500 stands of arms and 225 unwounded prisoners were 
among the trophies; 129 killed and 458 wounded partially indicated the measure 
of the loss of the enemy. 

The total loss of our division during the siege amounted to 261, of whom 27 
were killed, 148 wounded, and 76 missing. 



SIEGE OF KNOXVII.I.K 



83 



The loss of our regiment was thirty, of whom two were killed, sixteen 
wounded, and twelve captured in the attack on Fort Sanders. 

From the opening of the campaign at Campbell's Station to the raising of the 
Siege of Knoxv.lle, December 5th the regiment lost one officer (Colonel Smith) 
and four men killed, four officers and forty-one men wounded, and seventeen men 
missing. Total 67 out of about 275 actually engaged. 

If called upon to name the operations in which the Twentieth Michigan played 
the most important part, and was able to render the greatest service, we would 
without hesitation select the battle of Campbell's Station and the defense of Fort 
Sanders. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE DEFENSE OF FORT SANDERS. 

October 29, 1863. 

The defense of Fort Sanders was among the most heroic as well as most 
important events of the war. 

It decided the campaign in East Tennessee. It permanently severed the con- 
nection between the rebel capital and the main Confederate Army in Virginia 
on the north and the great food-producing regions of the Confederacy on the 
south. It forever settled the status of East Tennessee as a loyal part of the 
Union. Though General Longstreet lingered around Morristown and Dan- 
dridge and in the valley of the French Broad River until the following March, 
it was only for the purpose of feeding his trot ps and was without important 
military or political results. 

Before leaving the subject of the Siege of Knoxville it seems desirable to 
speak somewhat more fully of the repulse of the a'ssaull upon Fort Sanders, 
the forces engaged therein, the causes which chieflj contributed to our success 
and the part which the Twentieth Michigan took thei 

The story as given in the last chapter, from the standpoint of one on the inside 
of our works, on the right of the fort and near the center of our regiment, pre- 
sents a very imperfect statement of the action. It really does scant justice to 
either the attack or the defense. 

In 1890 was published Vol. XXXI of the Official Records of the Union and 
Confederate Armies, containing the official documents relating to the Knoxville 
campaign, Confederate as well as Federal. From these documents we are now 
able to know the Confederate side of the attack, as well as the official statements 
of the Union generals as to the defense. 

•And, first, it will be well to understand definitely the forces that delivered the 
assault, and where they were ordered to attack. 

In General Longstreet's report, at page 461 of the above named volume, he 
states: "The assault was made at the appointed time by Generals Wofford's, 
Humphrey's and Bryan's brigades." Again, he says, at the bottom of page 46b: 
"General Jenkins was ordered to advance a brigade, a little later than the assault- 
ing columns, and to pass the enemy's lines east of the fort, and continue the 
attack along the enemy's rear and flank." 

This would have brought Jenkin's brigade directly upon the front of the 
Twentieth and Seventeenth Michigan regiments, but as a matter of fact they 
struck the northwest bastion of the fort, just at the left of the Twentieth Michi- 
gan. Again, General Longstreet says (at top of page 461) : "Two brigades of 



AFTER FORT SANDERS 8§ 



Major Genera! Buckner's division, under Brigadier General B R ,„!,„ 

■ng arrived „,e day before, were ordered ,o move ur S c G^'Si aTd 

at a conven.en, d.s.anee, ,0 be thrown in as circumstances „,igl„ r e qi „re» 

We see therefore that the assault was actually made by three brides of 

on the left by Anderso„,'brigade^k^S "oh^ " ? £ 'TIE 

b^al^Crefjrhecl^I'^v " * <™ 
th; e f n ?T LOngStreet Sa> ' S ° n ,hG Page IaSt ^ uoted: '"'When within S oo yards of 

2 S - ^r,;:::r:/s-r b : t t-ni:;r d si™" 
=X\= ru;:,;:;:^, -^ rf Sr = "= 

other, had been reputed, alte ™ tt 1™' tc^ PO ' m ^ "^ "» 

■* -' ™«w. M-s .; ';n°^ ; r de cZ:,ed g :nr; r ther with 

ments, while Anderson's brimrfu .-«<■ u >• ,■ nr Geor gia regi- 

toou regimen, ,, „ , , f ^ ^ ?y ,S1 ° n ^ which assaulted next 

sir-"-- "--■ : -»'=^'=..- ; :: l ;;.:s:::™^:: 

In the same volume on naw inn of f „„ • • 
its repulse, he adds : ' °Wh« h^TZwTT ? ^ "•"' " d 
mount the parapet. Genera, G. I. JSeS.t^^y^T" ^ 
rushing to the assault in th* Mm „ i , nood s division came 

bu, was repuLd a on e /: ,'•■ %■ KTt 7 «™»! ^ ^mpte, 

two aasauha ,,v two cdumns C differ! dMst^MeT ?" ','T," 

commanded by independent commanding office ITd that tot h "" ' 

repulsed. -"w-ers, and mat both were promptly 

-Ha. there was no pan, that h^rpsh^ =T SJ^ ~ 



86 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

range of the enemy's (our) breastworks, that they prevented the enemy using 
their cannon upon the assaulting columns," and that "but few men tvere shot by 
musketry even, in front of my line, and many of those by the enemy holding 
their guns over their heads and firing without aim." What, then, was it that 
demoralized his column and compelled them to desist from the assault, and 
retreat? He says: "Most of the men were killed by a fire from the left of my 
line, over which I had no control." As McLaws controlled the Confederate line 
from the fort to the river, he must mean that this fire came from the north and 
east of the fort, where Roemer's guns and the Twentieth Michigan were. 

Again, on the next page (491), General McLaws says: "The main cause of 
the failure, however, was the slipperiness of the parapet, upon which it was 
impossible for any large body of men to gain a foothold, and the severe fire 
from the north side of tlie fort, which drove the men from the most accessible 
point of ascent." Here, then, we have the declaration of the major general 
commanding the assault, that the "main cause" of the failure was the fire from 
north of the fort. 

It is a fact well known to the writer that owing to the lay of the ground and 
the position and direction of the breastworks, no infantry fire from beyond the 
line of the Twentieth Michigan could possibly reach the assaulting column. 

The left section of Roemer's battery occupied redoubts between the two left 
companies of the Twentieth and the center of the regiment. From the time of 
the attack, commenced at about 10:30 o'clock on the night of the 28th, until 
the assault was repulsed, Roemer's battery fired 169 rounds, and it ought not 
to be forgotten that his guns were in part served by thirteen detailed men from 
the Twentieth Michigan. 

It is a fact which can be verified by the men of Companies "A" and "D," who 
were in the unfinished northwest bastion of the fort, that these companies fired 
away almost the last cartridge they had, and that, too, at point blank range. 

Neai the close of the firing, Captain Grant, commanding officer of Company 
D, sent word to Major Cutcheon that their cartridges were nearly exhausted, 
and asking for more ammunition. The cartridge boxes of the killed and 
wounded were gathered up and sent in to them. 

It is not too much to claim, therefore, that what saved Fort Sanders, on the 
morning of November 29, 1863, was not the Seventy-ninth New York in the 
salient, nor Benjamin's twenty-pounder Parrotts, which could not sweep the 
"sector without fire," over which the main part of the assaulting columns rushed, 
nor yet the murderous hand grenades, which slaughtered the men already in the 
ditch, from which they could not get out, but rather that deadly, steady, un- 
intermitting and unerring fire, from the left flank of the Twentieth Michigan, 
and the devastating discharges of canister and shrapnel from Roemer's left sec- 
tion, just north of the fort, served in part by the men of this regiment. 

On the morning of December 1, 1863, Brigadier General R. B. Potter, com- 
manding the corps, issued a congratulatory order, in which he named the Sev- 
enty-ninth New York, the Second Michigan Volunteers, and a detachment of the 
Twenty-ninth Massachusetts (of Christ's brigade), as those to whom, he says, 
"is due the credit of repulsing a picked column of the enemy," etc. 



AFTER FORT SANDERS 



87 



For a copy of this order see "Michigan in the War/' page 198 
Immediately upon the issue of this order, the commanding officer of the Twen- 
tieth Michigan. Major B. M. Cutcheon, at once addressed a respectful letter of 
protest to General Potter, calling attention to the fact that three companies of 
this regiment were actually in the fort, and that the two companies on the left 
nearly or quite exhausted their ammunition, and that the Twentieth Re-iment 
lost more men ,n the assault, killed, wounded and missing, than any other regi- 
ment of the Ninth Corps. We regret that we have not been able to find in the 
Official Record, or to otherwise obtain a copy of this letter to embody in this 
story. - 

In the diary of that galkwt officer, Captain Walter McCollum, of Company H 
under the date, December 1, 1863, is found this entry: '"General Potter com- 
manding the corps, issued a circular congratulating the defenders of Fort San- 
ders on the 29th nit. He omitted to mention the part of our regiment which 
00k part in the defense. Major Cutcheon applied for a mention of the Twen- 
tieth s service. The regiment in fact did nearly as much as any one command" 
And now, forty years after McCollum made that entry in his diary, comes this 
offical «port of Major General McUws, declaring that the "main cause of the 
tailure was the slippery parapet and "the severe fire from the north side of 

THE FORT. * " 

And that fire came from the Twentieth Michigan. There are one or two other 
extracts from Confederate reports which ought to be placed on record here 
Brigadier General M. Jenkins, commanding Hood's division, says on page 528- 
I >ns lruc , (; d bun (Genera. Anderson) to break over the enemy's breastwork at 
r,Vht rS * deS1 ff ted to h ™ Personally, about 100 yards to the left (our 
right) of the fort, and then to wheel to the left and .weep down the breastworks" 

'Anderson's brigade instead of directing its attack, as I ordered, against the 

taking it in reverse also moved too far to the right, and before the staff office^ 

and courier dispatched the moment I perceived their misdirection, to order them 

o the point already designated could reach them, the distance being short from 

the ^starting point to the fort, became involved in the direct attack upon the side 

h f p th j f ° rt -, ;U te 7 allant eff ° rlS °" the Pan ° f the ° fficers and ™* to overcome 
the physical d.fficulties and storm the work, the brigade fell back to its previous 
position. F vluua 

Had not Anderson's column lost its proper direction, and had it carried out its 
order as given, its attack would have fallen directly upon the front of the Twen- 
tieth and Seventeenth Michigan, where, from the moment it rose over the little 
ridge near the railroad, it would have received the concentrated fire of the Twen- 
-eth, Seventeenth and Second, and a flanking fire from two sections of Gitting's 
en-pounder Parrott guns on our right, with the direct front fire of Roemeris 
two gu„* ft seems fairly doubtful if Anderson's brigade could have fared any 
better had it assaulted on our front where ordered, than it did further to our left 
Brigadier General Bushrod R. Johnson, commanding Buckner's division at 
page 532 of the Official Records, say,- "Vision, at 



88 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



"On Sunday, November 29, having previously received orders from the lieu- 
tenant general commanding to that effect, my command moved at daylight at the 
signal for the attack from the rifle pits in front of Fort Loudon (all Confederates 
call Fort Sanders "Fort Loudon"), to support the assaulting column under Briga- 
dier General Humphreys. Grade's brigade advanced on the right or south of the 
East Tennessee & Virginia Railroad, and Fulton's command (Johnson's brigade) 
moved from a position on the north of this road, distant some 800 or 1,000 yards 
from the fort. In the advance the latter command crossed the railroad in front 
of the rifle pits, and approached to within 250 yards of the fort.on the left or north 
of the salient, on which the assault was made. It here came under the enemy's 
fire, especially from the rifle pits on the north of the fort. At this time 
Gracie's brigade, which was moving up in rear and on the right, was ordered by 
the lieutenant general commanding, who was on its front, to be withdrawn, and 
seeing it move to the rear, Johnson's brigade (Fulton's command) was halted, 
and the men covered themselves from the enemy's fire by lying flat on the 
ground." 

Here, then, is still a third brigade which came under this fire from the north 
side of the fort and was compelled to halt and lie down. To recapitulate : They 
first poured a murderous fire into the left flank of McLaws' division, led by Wof- 
ford's and Humphrey's brigades, in the first and main assault. 

Second. When Anderson's brigade of Hood's division came rushing to the at- 
tack, they met a like experience, and were quickly repulsed. And. third, when 
Johnson's brigade of Buckner's division crossed the railroad and attempted to 
push up toward the breastworks, they were obliged to lie down by this same 
withering fire from the north side of the fort. 

All men of the Twentieth know and can testify that no musketry fire came from 
on our right, because the lay of the land did not permit it. In the light of these 
official reports of the Confederate commanders, we are constrained to the belief 
that no command in the entire army did more or so much for the defense of 
Fort Sanders, and consequently for the salvation of Knoxville and East Ten- 
nessee as did the Twentieth Michigan. If this presentation of the evidence on 
this point, almost forty years after the event, shall promote a juster estimate of 
the services of this regiment, it will sufficiently justify the wisdom of undertaking 
the work of preserving its history. 

It will not be deemed out of place to call attention to the fact that among all 
those who acted prominent parts as regimental, brigade, division or corps com- 
manders, in the defense of Knoxville. only the writer of this survives. 

Burnside commanding the army, Hartsuff and Potter commanding the army 
corps; Hartranft and Ferrero commanding divisions, Morrison, Christ and Hum- 
phrey commanding brigades, Lawson, One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Byington, 
Second Michigan, Comstock, Seventeenth Michigan, have all crossed the river and 
pitched their tents "on fame's eternal camping ground." 

On the 25th of November General Grant had fought and won the battle of 
Chattanooga on Mission Ridge, and had driven General Bragg with his army 
back into Georgia. 



AFTER FORT SANDERS 



He then detached General Sherman with two army corps, who hastened by- 
forced marches to the relief of General Burnside and his army at Knoxville. 

As early as November 28 rumors of Bragg's defeat began to reach General 
Longstreet, but this only decided him to deliver the assault at once and endeavor 
to use up Burnside's army before relief could reach him. 

On December 4 General Sherman's army reached Maryville, about twenty 
miles directly south of Knoxville, and he caused some of his heavy guns to be 
fired to notify General Burnside of his approach, and on the 6th General Sher- 
man with his staff reached Knoxville. 

But it appears that as early as December 2 General Longstreet had decided upon 
the abandonment of the siege, and on that night commenced the movement of his 
trains in the direction of Morristown, escorted by two brigades of cavalry. This 
movement continued throughout the night of the 3d and was completed during 
the 4th and the night of the 4th, so that on the morning of the 5th our skirmish- 
ers advanced and found their lines quite abandoned, except by a few stragglers 
and deserters, who were picked up and brought in. 

On the 6th the command lay in camp awaiting orders. In the afternoon there 
was a regimental inspection, it being Sunday, and for the first time since we left 
Lenoir the men were able to stand erect back of the trenches, and to brush up 
their clothes and accoutrements without being made a target for rebel sharpshoot- 
ers. That day at parade congratulatory orders were read from Generals Potter 
and Ferroro on the success of the defense, and the chaplain came over from the 
hospital and held a memorial service for those who had fallen, especially Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Smith and Captain Wiltsie, and a regimental order was read in 
tribute to their memories. 

On Monday, December 7, the troops moved in pursuit of Lcngstreet's force, but 
only about 10,000, all told, were in condition to march. Since we came within 
the defenses of Knoxville the troops had been upon half rations or less, and for 
the last week quite without sugar or coffee and only a very short ration of a 
nondescript bread, composed of cornmeal, rye flour and "shorts," which tin 
soldiers denominated "Burnside Short Caki;." 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE WINTER IN EAST TENNESSEE— RETURN TO THE EAST. 

Decern) cr 5 56.2 April 7. 1S64. 

During the night of Decern' er [863 r rs ;ame from corps headquarters 

for the command to be in readiness to march at daylight of the 7th. Accord- 

: re remaining on hand, half rations for five days were 

- i to the men. 

" 7th the division was on the road headed toward Morristown. 

where General Longs! - supposed to be. It is now known from General 

gsti -. official reports, that he reached Blain*s Cross Roads on the 5th 

and R - g n the the 6th. where he remained until the Sth. The night of the 
7th we camped twelve miles from Knoxville. being in touch with the enemy's 
rear guard. 

It should be said here that, even before the siege was raised. General Burnside 
had been ordered to tun- command to Major General John G. : 

who came : i had not previously served in the we-: Al 

the time we marched fror. Foster as already at Cumberland 

Gap. and as soon ts 1 _ his retreat -ed the roads to Knoxville, 

he proceeded to report there on the nth. and assumed command of the Depart- 
ment of the Ohio on the 12th. relieving General Burnside. who thereupon set out 
for the north to report in person to the president. 

As - -rptember. almost immediately after the surrender of Cumberland 

Gap. General Burnside had notified the president that he might ask to be re- 
lieved on account of his health. The president at that time declined to entertain 
But now. owing in part, no doubt, to the - -:.. :tion of General 
then general-in-chief. because Burnside did not make connections with 
Rosea - - t's movement towar - request was 

granted and he - 51 ed from the command. But that President Lincoln was 
not serious'.; --.ed with General Burnside's East Tennessee campaign was 

made evident :'r:m the fact that almost immediately he entrusted him with the re- 
: :he Ninth Corps, and gave him an important command with the 
Army of the Potomac 

When, therefore, the troops started out on December 7 to follow up the enemy, 
General Burnside remained at Knoxville. and General John G. Parke, who had 
been Burnside's chief of staff during the preceding campaign, took the field in 
command of his troops. General R_ B. Potter remained in command of the 
corps and General Ferrero of the division. 

march continued on the 8th and 9th and at noon of the 10th we passed 



WINTER IN EAST TENNE - 91 

through the village of Rutledge. situated on the road from Cum'- ip to 

Dandridge, thirty 1 from Knoxville and about forty rr. 

his time a considerable body of our cava-. Station, 

miles beyond Rutledge and east of the Clinch Mountain, and Longstreet suddenly 
faced about with the intent of striking this cavalry before the infantry could come 
to its aid. 

The engagement known as the "battle of I - ed on the i 

and at Rutledge, we thought from the noise made, that a hea- ~ent 

must be in progress. That day we marched from Rutledge to Thurit; 5 Ford 
Cor Ferry.) . about seven n on the Holston. in order to protect that 

flank from a threatened movement from the direction of Morristown. 
ade of rebel cavalry appeared upon the opposite bank and opened a :pon 

us. and several men were wounded. 

On this day the regiment received official notice of the discharge of Colonel 

A. \\ . \\ illiams who had nominally remained 

preceding March. At a meeting of the officers that 1 e t was unanim 

decided to recommend to the governor of Michigan the promotion of Major 

B. M. Cutcheon to be colonel of the regiment to fill the vacancy, and of Cat I 
Geo. C. Barnes and C. B. Grant to be lieutenant colonel and major 

and on arrival at Bh. formal recommendal 

■out 10 o'clock that night, pursuant to orders then received, the regiment 
fell back some miles toward Rutledge and bivouacked. 

On the morning of the 15th the brigade once more moved forward toward 
Thui - ;. coming in contact with the enemy's picke: a - 

The brigade was formed in line of battle and had just commenced to advance, 
when imperative cr re received to retire at on edge. We moved 

back to Rutledge and remained in line north of the - ps from 

Bean's Station had passed to the rear. Late that nis out half 

Blain's Cross Roads and bivoua: 

December 16 we resumed the movement to Blair ?:oads, arriving about 

noon, and that evening formed a line of 1 - the 

valley at that point, the Twentieth being on the far up the side of 

the Clinch Mountain, close up to the perpendici-; - - 

Sheridan's and Wood's divisions of Granger i and took 

:on on our left, on the other side of Clinch Mountain on the Taze 

The regiment remained at Blain's Cross Roads, with only slig 
location, for one month. 

This was one of the most trying periods oi our 
on not more than half rations, their clothing was almost in rags, and a - 
number were without sh feet from the frozen grou: 

the "'■ rge" of the Tennessee campaig 

On January 4, 1864, the regiment was inspected by Colonel Humphrey, Second 
Michigan. He reported that out of 300 inspected, he found 59 without under- 
clothing, 121 v -: :h no tents. 169 without s - ver- 
coats. and 17 with no blankets. This largel: - of knaps.. - 
at Lenoirs Station, without fault of the men. 



92 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



On January 8 the Eighth Michigan, having reenlisted, started over the moun- 
tains for Michigan, on their "veteran furlough" of sixty days. Some sixty men 
who did not reenlist were assigned to the Twentieth Michigan for the rest of 
their term. 

On January n the One Hundredth and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania started on 
their furlough, and the brigades were reconstructed as follows : 

The Twentieth Michigan was transferred into the place of the Eighth Michigan 
in the First Brigade, and our brigade was then as follows: 

First Brigade — Colonel David Morrison, commanding. 

Seventy-ninth New York — Captain Montgomery, commanding. 
Twentieth Michigan — Major Cutcheon, commanding. 
Thirty-sixth Massachusetts — Major Draper commanding. 
Forty-fifth Pennsylvanh — Lieutenant Colonel Hills, command- 
ing. 

This remained our brigade orgnaization until we reached Annapolis, Maryland, 
on April 7, 1864. 

On January 14th our clothing train arrived at Blains Cross Roads from Cum- 
berland Gap, and the men were all fitted out with clothing, and made much more 
comfortable, though rations continued to be scanty. 

It was no uncommon thing for the men to forage on the mule trains at night, 
and bring in corn in the ear, which they shelled and roasted or parched. Forage 
trains were sent out into the distant valleys to bring in corn and grain, and rarely 
returned without a few chickens and sometimes even a turkey. 

During this period the men preserved a wonderful cheerfulness and firm cour- 
age, and never were they more determined to stay by and see the thing out than 
during this hard winter in East Tennessee. 

We saw little or nothing of our higher officers, and it is doubtful if a man in 
the regiment would have recognized General Foster, who succeeded General 
Burnside. if he had met him. 

General Foster was suffering from an old, unhealed wound when he came to us, 
and about the beginning of February he requested to be relieved, and his request 
was granted. He departed on February 9 and was succeeded by Major General 
John M. Schofield. 

On January 16, 1864, the division marched from Blain's Cross Roads across 
the country to Strawberry Plains, a distance of seven miles, in a southeast 
direction. 

Here we camped in a fine piece of woods on high ground overlooking the 
Holston River. At this point the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad crosses the 
river, and the bridge, which had been burned by the rebels, had been rebuilt so 
that it could be used for troops. 

On January 18 General R. B. Potter, commanding the corps, left for the north 
on thirty days' leave of absence, and did not again rejoin until the corps reached 
Annapolis, Maryland. General O. B. Willcox again took command of the corps. 

On January 21 the enemy came down in force from the direction of Morristown 
and attacked and drove in our pickets on the east side of the river, planted a bat- 



WINTER IN EAST TENNESSEE 



93 



tery on College Hill, and shelled our position pretty lively. Our regiment was 
deployed along the river, and a part sent to picket the road in the direction of 
Blain s Cross Roads. We had no losses in the regiment from this skirmish 

Before daylight of the 22A we commenced withdrawing from Strawberry Plains 
in the direction of Knoxville. We reached Flat Creek at daylight and halted 
for breakfast. Here the advance of the rebel cavalry came upon us and we 
formed in line of battle, but they did not press this attack, though they continued 
to follow up all day for the purpose of picking up stragglers. 

Just before night we formed in line of battle near Armstrong's, three miles from 
Knoxville, and quite a skirmish followed, and the enemy was driven back the 
Twenty-seventh Michigan taking an active and creditable part. 

We lay upon our arms that night, and continued in position during the ^ 3 d 
and on the 24th marched through Knoxville and out past Fort Sanders on the 
Loudon road, to Erin Station, about five miles from Knoxville. 

Here we made a camp in a beautiful grove of timber on the bank of the Hol- 
ston River. The location was on a high and pleasant ridge, with a splendid out- 
look ,n all directions. Here we remained until February 15, with the exception 
of one day when we marched to Knoxville, on February 1, and out beyond the 
hills on the south side, to meet and repel some threatened cavalry raid But 
the enemy did not appear. At Erin we had abundant rations, a plentiful issue of 
clothing, and the weather was mostly pleasant and healthful. Drills and parades 
were resumed, Colonel Morrison having brigade drills three times a week 
Mails came regularly by way of Chattanooga, and the men began to feel that we 
were in touch with the world once more. 

On February 11 the Second Michigan started for Michigan on their veteran 
furlough, and the other Michigan regiments turned out and formed along the 
road to pay them parting honors. The Second had come to be very highly 
esteemed by us as a splendid body of men, always ready for any arduous duty. 
Ihey had been blessed with such commanding officers as Richardson, Poe and 
Humphrey, who had brought them up to the highest standard of efficiency as 
brave and well disciplined soldiers. As we had been associated with them 
almost from the day we entered the service, our regiment had become greatly 
attached to them, and parted with them with deep regret. 

On February 16th the corps broke up camp at Erin and marched to Knoxville 
and bivouacked just beyond. An attack by the enemy was feared, but the alarm 
seems to have been unfounded. February 18th the First Division moved around 
to the Clinton road and camped about two miles west from Fort Sanders 

The regiment remained at this camp with the exception of a reconnaissance to 
Washington Cross Roads, about half way to Blain's Cross Roads, until February 
24, when it marched with the whole army to Strawberry Plains. 

It has been mentioned before that on February 9 General John M Schofield 
assumed command of the Army of the Ohio, relieving Major General T G 
Foster. J ' 

General Schofield was wholly new to the department and to the troops and 
we had little occasion or opportunity for seeing him in the short time we re- 
mained in East Tennessee. 



94 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

These days in February were days of doubt and uncertainty. All kinds of 
rumors were constantly flying about, and all sorts of reports were brought in by 
frightened citizens. 

One day it would be reported that Longstreet had broken up camp and was 
moving to Virginia, and the next day that he had crossed the French Broad and 
was moving southward to rejoin General Bragg in Northern Georgia. Again, 
it would be reported that he had been reinforced by Ewell's corps and was mov- 
ing to renew the siege of Knoxville. From present knowledge we may well be- 
lieve that General Longstreet was content to be let alone, as his troops were quite 
as badly off for food and clothing as our own. 

The great body of his infantry remained in winter quarters about Russellville 
and Morristown, while his cavalry scoured the country in all directions for food 
and forage, and especially the rich valley of the French Broad. 

On February 2"] we moved forward, crossed the Holston at Strawberry Plains, 
and on the night of the 28th camped at Mossy Creek, and on the next day we 
marched in a heavy downpour of rain to and through Morristown and camped a 
little east of the town. So ended the month of February and our last "forward 
movement" in the valley of East Tennessee. 

On March 2d we scuttled back to Mossy Creek and, a part of the army, as far 
as Strawberry Plains. We remained at and near Mossy Creek until the 12th, 
when we once more returned to Morristown, and camped about two miles from 
town in the direction of "Chucky Bend." 

On the morning of the 14th a skirmish took place at Glendale, four miles 
toward "Chucky Bend," and at about 11 o'clock our brigade started out toward the 
Bend, to investigate the presence of a cavalry force of the enemy there. Major 
General Schofield and General Ferrero accompanied the troops. The Seventy- 
ninth New York was left at Glendale, and the Twentieth Michigan and the 
Thirty-sixth Massachusetts went on to the mouth of the Nolechucky or Chucky 
Bend. The Thirty-sixth Massachusetts halted at the mouth of the "Chucky," while 
the Twentieth continued on for a mile or two to the ford of a creek on the other 
side of which was a rebel cavalry camp. We had every reason to expect a 
warm reception. We threw off knapsacks, forded the creek, formed line of 
battle and charged the rebel cavalry camp up and over a steep hill. The rebels did 
not wait for us, but hustled out in a great hurry, leaving horses, saddles, some 
arms, and their dinner cooking. A few shots were fired, but we suffered no loss. 

It was very handsomely done, and had not the enemy run before we could get 
at him, there would have been a pretty fight. The regiment returned to camp. 
This was our last skirmish in Tennessee. 

On this same day, March 14, though then unknown to us, the order came for 
the Ninth Corps to report to Annapolis, Maryland, without delay. 

On the 16th we were relieved by troops of the Fourth Corps, under General 
Gordon Granger, and on the 17th we started on our return to Knoxville, and 
camped that night at Newmarket, half way between Mossy Creek and Straw- 
berry Plains, and on the 19th reached Knoxville at noon, and camped on the 
plain on the Clinton road just west of Fort Sanders. 
* On the morning of March 21 the entire corps set out for camp Nelson, Ken- 



WINTER IN EAST TENNESSEE 95 

tucky, reaching Clinton the same night, Jacksboro on the 22d, near Chitswood 
on the 24th, and next day, March 25th, entered Kentucky once more, and on the 
27th reached Burnside's Point at noon, and camped that night beyond Somerset. 
Passing through Waynesburg, Stamford, Lancaster, Camp Dick Robinson and 
Camp Nelson, the regiment reached the old camping place, "Camp Parke," on the 
evening of March 31, having marched 218 miles from Morristown since the morn- 
ing of the 17th, and 176 miles from Knoxville since the 21st, with only one day's 
rest. A careful estimate made at this time, showed that the regiment had now 
traveled since leaving Jackson, 5,626 miles. 

On the afternoon of April 1 the regiment took cars at Nicholasville, reaching 
Cincinnati on the 3d, being detained by railroad accidents, and at 11 p. m. of 
the 4th reached Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, just a year and a half since we passed 
through there on our way to the front, September 2, 1862. On the evening of 
April 6 reached Baltimore, Maryland, and, proceeding by steamer, disembarked at 
Annapolis on the morning of the 7th, a year and sixteen days after we set out 
from Baltimore for Kentucky. 



CHAPTER XV. 



ANNAPOLIS TO THE WILDERNESS. 

April 22, 1864. April 30, 1864. 

During the movement from Knoxville, Tennessee to Annapolis, Maryland, the 
regiment was under the command of Captain George C. Barnes of Company "C," 
the senior officer present with the regiment. 

In accordance with the recommendation of all the officers of the regiment, 
made at Blain's Cross Roads, Governor Blair had commissioned Major Cutcheon 
to be colonel of the regiment, with rank from November 21, 1863; Captain 
Geo. C. Barnes to be lieutenant colonel, vice Smith killed in action, with rank 
from the same date, and Captain C. B. Grant to be Major, vice Major Cutcheon, 
promoted. 

These officers' commissions were received in February, 1864, while the regiment 
was at Erin Station, and application was immediately made for muster. 

But it was decided by the mustering officer at Knoxville that the regiment, 
being reduced below the minimum organization, was not entitled to muster a col- 
onel. Appeal was taken to the commissary of musters for the Department of the 
Ohio, and he sustained the mustering officer at Knoxville. By this time, the 
regiment had left East Tennessee, and neither Captain Barnes nor Captain Grant 
was able, to muster on their commissions, because no vacancy had been created 
into which they could be mustered. As the only thing which could be done, 
the governor issued new commissions to Major Cutcheon as lieutenant colonel, 
to rank from November 16, 1863 (the date of the death of Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith), and to Captain Barnes as major from the same date. These commis- 
sions were issued on the 26th day of March, 1864, but the officers were not able 
to be mustered into the service of the United States until the regiment arrived at 
Warrenton Junction, on May 2, 1864. 

It therefore came about that while Captain Barnes had his commission as 
lieutenant colonel from the time the regiment was at Erin Station, his rank in 
the United States service was only that of captain, until the opening of the Wil- 
derness campaign. On March 21, 1864, the day the regiment left Knoxville, 
Major Cutcheon received orders from General Willcox, commanding the divi- 
sion, to proceed to Michigan on recruiting service, and to report to the command 
with his recruiting parties within thirty days after arrival in Michigan. 

The following named officers and men had been for some time on recruiting 
service in Michigan, namely: 



ANNAPOLIS TO THE WILDERNESS 97 

First Lieutenant Alfred A. Van Cleve, Company B. 
First Lieutenant David E. Ainsworth, Company D. 
Sergeant Adrian C. White, Company C. 
Sergeant Reuben E. Manning, Company B. 
Sergeant Charles W. Maynard, Company D. 
Sergeant Edwin M. Adams, Company F. 
Sergeant David C. Holmes, Company H. 
Sergeant Daniel Irons, Company G. 

Pursuant to his orders, Major Cutcheon proceeded to Michigan, arriving on 
March 26, and reported to Colonel B. H. Hill, superintendent of recruiting, on 
March 27, and remained on that duty until April 20, when he set out with his 
recruiting party to rejoin the regiment, and reported to General Willcox at An- 
napolis, Maryland, on the evening of April 22, and the same evening resumed the 
command of the regiment, just thirty days after leaving Knoxville. 

It should be stated here that on January 8, 1864, when the Eighth Michigan 
Volunteers reenlisted at Blain's Cross Roads, 145 enlisted men of that regiment, 
who did not "veteranize," were assigned and transferred to the Twentieth Michi- 
gan for the remainder of their term of service, and their descriptive rolls turned 
over to the commanding officer of this regiment. If these men were to be re- 
garded as a part of this regiment it increased its strength above the minimum, 
and entitled it to a full corps of officers. Upon application to the War Depart- 
ment, May, 1864, it was held that these men could not be considered a part of 
the strength of the regiment, and that they did not raise it to the minimum. 

Under and by virtue of a joint resolution of the congress of the United States, 
passed July 26, 1866, Lieutenant Colonel Cutcheon was mustered out as Lieutenant 
Colonel, and mustered on April 3, 1867, as colonel of the Twentieth Michigan, as 
of date, February 14, 1864, the day on which he received and accepted his commis- 
sion as colonel at Erin Station, Tennessee. Subsequently, under an amendment 
of the law, the 145 men of the Eighth Michigan were recognized as a part of this 
regiment, and Colonel Cutcheon's muster as colonel of the Twentieth Michigan, 
was further amended to date from January 8, 1864, the date of their transfer. 

At Annapolis the corps was entirely reorganized and many new regiments 
added thereto. The corps had been recruited up to about 24,000 men. General 
A. E. Burnside was once more restored to the command. The three white divi- 
sions were commanded as follows : 

First Division — Brigadier General Thomas G. Stevenson. 
Second Division — Brigadier General R. B. Potter. 
Third Division — Brigadier General O. B. Willcox. 

The third division consisted of two brigades. 
7 



98 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

FIRST BRIGADE. 

Colonel John F. Hartranft, Commanding. 

Second Michigan — Colonel Humphrey. 

Eighth Michigan — Colonel Graves. 

Seventeenth Michigan — Colonel Luce. 

Twenty-seventh Michigan — Major Moody. 

One Hundredth and Ninth New York — Colonel B. F. Tracey. 

Fifty-first Pennsylvania — Lieutenant Colonel Schall. 

SECOND BRIGADE (OURS). 

Colonel B. C. Christ, Commanding. 

First Michigan Sharpshooters— Colonel C. V. DeLand. 
Twentieth Michigan — Colonel B. M. Cutcheon. 
Seventy-ninth New York — Colonel David Morrison. 
Sixtieth Ohio— Colonel J. L. McElroy. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania — Lieutenant Colonel Overton. 

The First Michigan Sharpshooters and the Sixtieth Ohio were new regiments, 
just out from their states, and had never been in battle. As will be seen, our old 
friends with whom we had formerly been brigaded were mostly in Hartranft's 
brigade. The One Hundredth and Ninth New York was a large, new regi- 
ment just recently out.* The Fourth Division (of colored troops) were not at 
first attached to the Ninth Corps. They were a separate division, commanded by 
our old division commander, General Edward Ferrero. 

At the opening of the campaign, the Ninth Corps was not attached to the 
Army of the Potomac, but was an independent corps, and reported directly to 
Lieutenant General Grant until May 24. 

Such was our new organization when, on the morning of April 23, we set 
out from Annapolis, Maryland, to join General Grant on the Rapidan, in Virginia. 
Grant's headquarters were at Culpepper Court House, and we were to march to 
that point with all our artillery and trains, for two reasons. First, it would be 
a good "breaking in" of the new regiments who had not seen service ; and, second, 
as the railroad was occupied to its full capacity in getting forward supplies tor 
the campaign, it was really the only available way of getting so large a body of 
troops to the front. 

Many of the generals were new to their troops, and many of the regiments in 
the same divisions and brigades were unacquainted with each other; and this 
preliminary campaign would enable them to get into touch and find out "who was 
who," a thing so necessary to hearty co-operation in military operations. Nearly 
every old regiment in our division had been home on "veteran's furlough," except 
the Seventy-ninth New York, and the three years of that regiment would expire 
upon the 12th of May. 

* It was commanded by Col. Benj. F. Tracey, afterwards Secretary of the Navy, in the 
Harrison administration. 



ANNAPOLIS TO THE WILDERNESS 99 

There was so much raw material in the corps that it was not an easy thing to 
get it in motion. 

Though the reveille sounded at 4 o'clock in the morning, it was after 11 when 
we got straightened out and fairly started. We made a good afternoon's march 
in the direction of Washington, and after dark turned off the road and bivouacked. 
The men, especially of the new regiments, were loaded with enormous knap- 
sacks; the day was warm, and the amount of straggling was immense. 

But the Twentieth had practically no new men ; they were recently from their 
campaign in Tennessee and their long march over the mountains, and they 
never marched more easily or more beautifully. When the regiments turned off 
the road that night after the twelve mile walk, the commanding officer ordered 
the drum corps to tap the time, and instantly the files closed up with every man 
in his place, the arms at right shoulder, as if coming in from dress parade. 
General Willcox with his staff sat in their saddles as the regiment marched to 
its place, and complimented them most enthusiastically. It was a thing to 
be proud of. 

On the 24th reveille sounded at daylight, and we marched fourteen miles and 
went into camp on the farm of the Maryland Agricultural College. Again, the 
regiment was a model in marching, and came into camp with scarcely a straggler, 
after a good day's march. During the night there came up a very heavy thunder- 
storm, and the rain came down in torrents. The lower grounds became a pool 
of water, and it was not easy to find a dry spot. 

On the 25th we marched after daylight, and during the morning passed through 
the ancient village of Bladensburg, a few miles from Washington. 

In the first half of the century there was here a noted dueling ground, and a 
good many famous men had here faced an antagonist's pistol. 

Here, also, was a skirmish between the British and Americans in August, 
1814, in the war of 1812, when the British were advancing on Washington. Here 
was a small creek which the rains of the night before had swollen out of its 
banks and carried away the bridge, and the men were obliged to wade. Here 
we found the outer line of defenses of Washington, which never came into use, 
but which were a prudent precaution. Before noon we came in sight of the 
capitol and halted on the Bladensburg pike, in the suburbs of the city, near a large 
cavalry and artillery camp. Here we stacked arms and were told that we were to 
march in review before the president in passing through Washington, and that 
we were desired to make ourselves as presentable as possible. Knapsacks were 
unslung and unstrapped, brushes and blacking found, and in a few moments the 
entire division and corps were occupied in cleaning off the mud and tidying up 
generally. By this time the sun was shining brightly, and in the course of an 
hour a transformation had been wrought. It could hardly have been suspected 
that we had marched ten miles through the mud and waded through a creek that 
morning. Arms were bright, the brasses shining and the clothing in good 
order as we resumed our march down New York Avenue, toward the White 
House. The Twentieth Michigan was a small regiment — not more than 325 
guns — but all were veterans and thoroughly drilled. 

As we marched down New York Avenue to Fourteenth Street, there was no 



LafQ 



I00 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



finer appearing regiment in the corps. They moved as one man, with the ease 
and swing of veterans, which attracted universal attention and admiration. On 
reaching Fourteenth Street, the column turned to the left down that street, 
toward Pennsylvania Avenue. 

On the narrow balcony on the east front of Willard's Hotel, stood the President, 
Abraham Lincoln, the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, General A. E. Burn- 
side, and, while our division was passing, General O. B. Willcox, all with un- 
covered heads. There was no cheering, but the troops marched past with arms 
at the "carry," and as they passed gave the "marching salute," while the officers 
presented swords. 

Never were seen more dissimilar types of men. Lincoln was tall, angular, 
bowed, careworn, benignant; Stanton, short, broad, deep-chested, stern and posi- 
tively aggressive ; Burnside, erect, soldierly, strikingly handsome. The column 
marched by companies, and the Twentieth never marched more beautifully. Gen- 
eral Willcox complimented their appearance to Colonel Cutcheon in the most 
flattering terms. We continued the march to Long Bridge, once more crossed 
into Virginia over the very ground where we last crossed on September 4, 1862, 
then followed the road toward Alexandria for a mile or so, and turned up the 
valley beyond Arlington Heights toward Convalescent Camp, afterward Freedman 
Village, within half a mile of our first bivouac in Virginia. 

Here we camped until the morning of the 27th and during this time our divi- 
sion was paid. Here we were joined by the Fourth Division, commanded by 
General Ferrero. This division was composed of seven large regiments of col- 
ored troops, divided into two brigades. They had mostly been slaves and had 
been enlisted largely in Virginia and North and South Carolina. They were well 
clothed and armed, and seemed to take pride in making a good appearance. 
Throughout the campaign they were employed chiefly in guarding the wagon 
trains and droves of cattle. The one exception was the battle of the Crater, 
July 30, of which more will be said hereafter. 

Our (Third) division marched on the 27th at an early hour, but, as in leaving 
Annapolis, so here, the corps was a long time getting straightened out on the 
road, and it was late in the morning when we were fairly started. Our destina- 
tion was General Grant's army near Culpepper Court House, and our route lay 
along the line of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. We marched across the 
country nearly due south until we struck the Alexandria and Warrenton turnpike, 
near the village of Annadale, and then turned up that pike toward Fairfax 
Court House. It was about 11 o'clock that night when we reached the latter 
village, and in the darkness turned off the road and bivouacked at will, wherever 
we could find a spot. 

On April 28, after a late reveille, we took the road to Manassas Junction via 
Centreville. At about noon we reached Centreville Heights, where the rebel 
army under General Beauregard spent the winter of 1861-1862. 

Only a few old dilapidated, weather-beaten wrecks of houses remained, but 
the old Confederate fortifications were found but little demolished. It had been 
a very strong position and skilfully fortified. From this height is one of the most 
commanding views to be found in Northern Virginia. Before one, to the west- 



ANNAPOLIS TO THE WILDERNESS 101 



ward, lies the old Bull Run battlefield of July 21, 1861. and the wider field of the 
actions of August 29 and 30, 1862, between Bull Run and Groveton. You can 
trace the course of Bull Run for a long distance. Away beyond these fields rise 
the Bull Run Mountains, and still farther away, in the dim distance, the Blue 
Ridge Mountains bound the vision to the westward. 

Down at the foot of the hills to the southward is Blackburn's Ford, where the 
first great battle of the war was inaugurated, on July 18, 1861. Farther away, and 
more to the westward, on a broad plateau of land was Manassas Junction, 
around which had raged many a fight in previous years, and especially in the Pope 
campaign of 1862. On the hills a mile and a half or two miles beyond the Stone 
bridge on the Warrenton pike was the hamlet of Groveton where the battle chiefly 
raged on August 30, 1862. In every direction within the circle of the vision 
were scenes of conflict in the early years of the war. 

After an hour's halt for rest and refreshment, we again took up the march, 
turned to the left down the ridge, forded the historic Bull Run at Blackburn's 
Ford, and deflecting to the westward, passed through a broad belt of woods and 
out into the open country around the fortifications of Manassas. Then, following 
the line of the railroad, we reached Bristoe Station and camped for the night. 
We found the railroad strongly guarded at every bridge, as the army was depend- 
ent upon this single track road for all supplies. 

April 29 we marched to Catlett's Station where we halted for dinner, and where 
the Sixtieth Ohio was left as a temporary garrison. The rest of the division 
marched to Warrenton Junction, for the first time being, the terminus of our 
march. 

On April 30 our division relieved all the other troops who were on duty at 
Warrenton Junction, and most of our regiment was detailed for picket duty. 
Very strong pickets were maintained to prevent any attempted cavalry dash upon 
the railroad. 

Here the corps remained in quiet, principally engaged in picket duty, until the 
morning of May 4. We had been ordered by General Burnside to accumulate 
sixteen days' rations and a large supply of ammunition, and to hold ourselves in 
readiness to move at any hour when orders should be received. All indications 
pointed to the fact that the time for the opening of the great campaign was close 
at hand. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. 

April 30, 1864. May 8, 1864. 

On the 30th day of April, 1864, the Official Records show that the Ninth Corps 
had "present for duty in the three white divisions, 842 officers and 18,408 enlisted 
men, and 42 pieces of field artillery." (Vol. XXXVI, Part 1, page 915). 

The Third Division (Willcox's) returned 262 officers, 6,110 enlisted men; pres- 
ent and absent, 8,799, an d 12 pieces of field artillery. 

General Grant, having been made lieutenant general, and given command of 
all the armies, had left Washington to make his headquarters with the troops in 
the field, and had assumed personal command of the army operating against 
General Lee, consisting of the Army of the Potomac, including the Second, Fifth 
and Sixth Corps, under General Meade, the Cavalry Corps under General Sheri- 
dan, and the Ninth Corps under General A. E. Burnside. 

The Ninth Corps was not at first consolidated with the Army of the Potomac. 
The reason for this separation of the Ninth Corps from General Meade's army, 
was that General Burnside was senior to General Meade, by a wide margin, and 
General Grant did not desire to supersede General Meade. But on May 24, 1864, 
the Ninth Corps was formally consolidated with the Army of the Potomac, un- 
der the command of General Meade. General Burnside, then, as always, thor- 
oughly patriotic, waived the matter of rank and continued in command of the 
corps. 

On the morning of May 4, 1864, we set out from Warrenton Junction to join 
General Grant beyond the Rapidan. We knew full well when we broke camp that 
May morning and crossed the river in our front, that many of us would never re- 
cross it. But the fortunes of war are a lottery and each one hopes he may be 
among the fortunate ones. Yet the soldier must be prepared for either event. 
It is most fortunate that a veil is drawn between us and the future, and that we 
are not permitted to know what awaits us. Could we have foreseen Spottsylvania, 
Bethesda and Petersburg, there would have been many heavy hearts that morning. 

The apple orchards around Warrenton were bright and sweet with bloom as 
we struck our tents and marched away toward the "Old Wilderness" for the 
death-grapple with the forces of the Confederacy. We all knew that battle and 
danger for all, and death for many, were before us, yet this regiment marched 
away as light-hearted and as full of courage as they had ever been. The army 
was mostly composed of young men under twenty-five years of age, and it is most 
fortunate that youth always sees the hopeful aspect of the future. 

That evening we crossed the Rappahannock at the railroad station of the same 



THROUGH THE WILDERNESS 103 



name, and the head of the column continued on as far as Brandy Station, where 
our division received orders which caused us to countermarch to a point about a 
mile in advance of Rappahannock Bridge, where we bivouacked for the night. 

Before daylight of May 5 the reveille sounded, and as soon as it was light 
enough to see the road we were on our way to Germanna Ford of the Rapidan. 
The day was favorable and the roads were dry, the marching good and we 
pushed on rapidly, so that by 11 o'clock we had reached the hills overlooking 
Germanna Ford. Here we halted for dinner, and soon after noon we crossed 
the Rapidan on the pontoon bridges, and, passing through the old Confederate 
bridge-head fortifications, we advanced about southeast along the Germanna 
plank road, toward Wilderness Tavern. This region was well named "the Wil- 
derness." 

The country, which is rough in aspect, is generally covered with old forest with 
only narrow and obscure by-roads penetrating it, while clearings are few and far 
between. It was then in the fullest sense a wilderness. We kept on down the 
"plank road" — most of the plank worn out and gone— and about two and one- 
half or three miles from the bridge, we turned off to the right, following a private 
road, the main part of which ran southwest to "Widow Willis' place," and the 
lesser branch turned west to the "Rollins place." When the right of the division 
had nearly reached the latter place, it halted, with Hartranft's First Brigade on the 
right, and Christ's Brigade in the deep woods on the left. At this place the 
Rapidan makes a deep "ox-bow" to the eastward; on the inward curve of this ox- 
bow the right of the division rested. 

Two regiments were thrown out as skirmishers to the front and right to watch 
that flank, while the remainder of the division was permitted to stack arms and 
rest in line. Thus our division occupied the extreme right of General Grant's 
line, filling a gap between the Sixth Corps under Sedgwick, and the river. The 
Sixth Corps was deployed along a ridge mostly west of the Germanna plank road, 
and facing westward, the line being nearly at right angles with the Orange turn- 
pike. On the left of the Sixth Corps was the Fifth Corps, extending the line to 
and beyond the Orange turnpike, which extends nearly east and west from Orange 
Court House to Fredericksburg. Here it seems needful to give some detailed 
description of the location of the battle of the Wilderness. 

From Orange Court House, which had been General Lee's headquarters during 
the previous winter, two main roads extend nearly due east to Fredericksburg, in 
a generally parallel course, and at distance of from one to three miles apart. The 
more northerly of these is the Orange turnpike, which runs in a nearly straight 
line from Orange Court House to Wilderness Tavern. The more southerly one 
is the Orange plank-road. Germanna plank-road crosses the turnpike about 
forty roads west of Wilderness Tavern, and then continues on nearly due south- 
east and terminates in the Orange plank-road, about two miles from the cross- 
ing. Two miles west of Wilderness Tavern on the turnpike is Robinson's store, 
also known as "Locust Grove." Two miles and a half almost due south from 
Locust Grove is Parker's Store, on the Orange plank-road. From Parker's Store 
eastward the plank road turns sharply to the northeast, converging rapidly toward 
the turnpike, which it enters east of the junction of the Germanna road. In this 



104 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

tract on the two sides of the turnpike, between Locust Grove and Wilderness 
Tavern, and on both sides of the plank-road, between Parker's Store and the 
Germanna road and in the Wilderness between the turnpike and the plank-road, 
the battle of the Wilderness was fought. It should be further said that a little 
more than a mile southeast of Wilderness Tavern, the Brock road branches 
from the Germanna road, running almost due south until it crosses the Orange 
plank-road, then southeasterly to Todd's Tavern, and then southeast-by-east to 
Spottsylvania Court House. 

General Lee's army had spent the winter on the Upper Rapidan, with headquar- 
ters at Orange Court House, and on May 3d was disposed as follows : Ewell's 
Corps, 17,000* men, along the south side of the Rapidan from Mine Run up to the 
crossing of the railroad north of Orange Court House; Hill's Corps of about 
22,000 men, on the left of Ewell, guarding the upper fords of the Rapidan ; 
Longstreet's Corps, about 12,000 men, recently arrived from East Tennessee, at 
and near Gordonsville, eight to ten miles south of Orange Court House. 

Now, let it be understood that General Grant was hastening south through the 
Wilderness to reach Spottsylvania in advance of Lee, and that Lee as soon as he 
discovered that Grant had left his position about Culpepper Court House, 
foreseeing that he would strike for Spottsylvania to get the short line to Rich- 
mond, marched at once with Ewell's Corps, which was nearest at hand, on the 
turnpike, and Hill's corps along the plank road, to intercept General Grant in the 
Wilderness, and delay his march until he (Lee) could occupy Spottsylvania. The 
two armies were marching at right angles with each other, and the immediate 
question at issue was the right of way to Spottsylvania. 

A conflict was therefore inevitable, either in the Wilderness or at Spottsylvania, 
or both, if the first conflict did not prove to be decisive. 

General Longstreet marched from Gordonsville by roads further south than the 
plank road, and by hard marching, arrived at a position on the latter road west 
of Parker's Store during the night of May 5. The Fifth and Sixth Corps of the 
Army of the Potomac crossed the Rapidan at Germanna Ford on May 4, and 
marched to Old Wilderness Tavern, about five miles, without opposition, and de- 
ployed across the turnpike west of the Wilderness Run which crosses that road 
forty rods west from the Tavern, and pushed his advance west as far as Robin- 
son's Store or "Locust Grove." 

General Warren, commanding the Fifth Corps, also pushed another column 
along the road running southwest from Wilderness Tavern to Parker's Store, 
on the Orange plank-road, (the same on which we marched out the next morn- 
ing). General Grant perceiving indications that Lee was advancing in force on 
the turnpike to strike him in the flank, withdrew Warren from the plank-road at 
Parker's Store, and on the 5th of May concentrated the Fifth and Sixth Corps 
on the turnpike, to meet the advance of Ewell's Corps upon that road. 

The Second Corps, under General Hancock, preceded by Sheridan's Cavalry 
Corps, had crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, on the 4th and had moved to Chan- 
cellorsville without opposition. On the 5th they were ordered to Todd's Tavern, 

♦These figures include only men present for duty In the ranks,— fighting men,— and 
did not embrace absentees, or men detailed for duty outside the fighting line. That was 
the usual way in which the Confederates reported their strength. 



THROUGH THE WILDERNESS 105 



on the Brock road, and, marching up that road, deployed along it with right rest- 
ing near the junction with the Germanna road, and the left about an equal dis- 
tance south of the plank-road. Hancock faced west up the plank-road toward 
Parker's Store, as Warren faced west up the turnpike. Here Hancock was re- 
inforced by Wadsworth's Division of the Fifth Corps and Getty's Division of the 
Sixth Corps and Baxter's Brigade of Robinson's Division of Warren's Corps. 
Getty's Division was hurried to the intersection of the Brock road with the 
Orange plank road, to hold in check the advance of Hill's (Confederate) Corps, 
which was pushing forward on that road in hope to seize the junction and secure 
the direct road to Spottsylvania. 

Toward evening of the 5th a fierce and obstinate encounter took place along the 
line of the turnpike, between the Germanna road and Locust Grove, in which the 
Fifth Corps was temporarily successful, but later was outflanked and forced back 
nearly to the Germanna plank road. Just at dusk of the 5th, Wadsworth's divi- 
sion and Baxter's brigade of the Fifth Corps fell upon the left flank of Hill's 
column on the plank road and a furious conflict ensued ; the musketry being ex- 
tremely heavy. This was the fighting, the thunder of which came to us while we 
lay in line on the right, beyond the Widow Willis' place. So the double battle 
of the first day ended, with no decisive advantage to either side, with Warren and 
Sedgwick confronting Ewell on the turnpike and Hancock, reinforced by Getty 
and Wadsworth, facing Hill on the plank road, and Longstreet rushing to the 
fray on that flank. The night closed with all under orders to attack at daylight 
of the 6th. Both armies rested upon their arms. 

Between the line of Hancock, along the Brock road, and the line of the Fifth 
and Sixth Corps, along the turnpike west of Wilderness Run, there was a gap 
of not less than a mile and a half. 

The Brock road, on which Hancock was deployed, is more than a mile further 
east than the position of Warren's line, west of the I.acey house. On the 5th 
there were practically two armies fighting two battles on each side. The two 
wings were "en echelon" the right being more than a mile in advance. 

This description has been necessary in order to understand the part taken by 
Potter's and Willcox's divisions of the Ninth Corps on the 6th of May. 

At about 2 o'clock a. m., while the stars were still bright, our division was 
roused, blankets were rolled, coffee was made, breakfast eaten, the column 
formed, and at the earliest dawn the head of the division turned south on the 
old Germanna plank road toward the battlefield. The distance to the crossing 
of the turnpike was somewhat more than three miles. 

Our First Division, Stevenson's, had already gone to report to General Hancock 
on the Brock road. 

Potter's division had come up during the night, and preceded Willcox in the 
column. 

It was barely light enough to see to march when the two divisions straight- 
ened themselves out on the road, and the men pressed forward with long, swing- 
ing steps. The stars faded into the saffron hues of the early daylight. The 
morning was warm and beautiful. The woods were musical with the song of 
birds, and all nature seemed wrapped in profound peace. 



io6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Not the sound of a shot was heard at that early hour, far or near, to disturb 
the morning's quiet. Just before reaching the turnpike we passed the Old Green- 
wood mine and the site of a tannery. 

The entire neighborhood had been converted into a hospital for the wounded 
of the night before. Hundreds of them lay under the open sky, while all the 
hospital tents were full. Our column kept straight on past the crossing of the 
turnpike and Ccrmanna road, and entered a wide meadow, which occupied the 
southwestern angle between the two roads, and lay nearly in front of the Wilder- 
ness Tavern. Through the midst of this meadow flowed Wilderness Run, 
in a northeasterly direction, crossing both roads about 250 yards west of the old 
tavern. This meadow was green with untrodden grass, and the woods which 
encircled it at a distance of from a third to a half a mile, were lovely in their 
spring greenery. There was over all the hush which precedes the storm. No 
one could have suspected that within :. radius of two miles, concealed behind 
those walls of green, nearly a hundred and fifty thousand men were waiting 
the signal to spring upon each other and make that one of the world's famous 
battlefields.. The two divisions, Potter's and Willcox's, formed in the meadow 
in column of divisions closed in mass, one on the left, and the other on the 
right of the run. The sun had not yet risen over the tops of the eastern forest, 
when far away beyond the woods, in the southeast, where was the crossing of 
the Brock and Orange plank roads, came the first crash of musketry, and the 
great battle of the Wilderness was on. The roll of the musketry came nearer 
and increased in volume as the lines closed. 

Our old antagonist, Longstreet, of Knoxville memory, had marched rapidly 
since midnight, had arrived at Parker's Store at dawn, and just as the sun was 
rising, he hurled his corps against Hancock's extreme left, attacking from the 
embankment of the unfinished Orange & Fredericksburg Railroad. 

At about the same moment came the sounds of battle from the front of War- 
ren's corps, on the right, and soon the crash of musketry and roar of artillery 
extended along the whole front of four miles or more. 

At about the same time our two divisions moved. There was no sound of 
drum nor shrill of fife nor blare of brazen music as we moved away. Potter's 
division advanced nearly due south on the east side of the run, along the road 
which comes out on the plank road at "Widow Tapp's place," and Willcox, turn- 
ing to the right, past the "Lacey House," took the road running southwest past 
the "Chewning's place" to Parker's Store, nearly parallel with the west branch of 
Wilderness Run. This road was narrow, unfit for cavalry or artillery, and prog- 
ress was slow, and we halted while the engineers widened the road so as to be 
practicable for artillery, and troops could move in heavier column. Our division 
continued to advance along this Parker's Store road, until we came out upon a 
large clearing, or old farm without buildings, midway between the Hagerson 
place on the north and the Chewning place on the south. The latter place was 
about a mile from Parker's Store. Here our brigade first moved by the flank 
through the woods on the north of the clearing, feeling for Warren's left. The 
brigade had advanced beyond Warren's left, and instead we found the right of 
Ewell's Skirmishers, where they were building a log breastwork near the Hag- 
erson Clearing. 



THROUGH THE WILDERNESS 107 



Here we were vigorously shelled by a rebel battery posted south of the run 
near the Chewning house, the Twentieth Michigan and Fiftieth Pennsylvania 
were then withdrawn from the woods north of the clearing, and posted on the 
right and left of the road by which we had advanced.* 

Here we lay until the middle of the afternoon, the First Michigan Sharpshoot- 
ers losing a few men by the shelling and sharpshooting. Our skirmishers had 
made connections on the right and left so as to fill the gap between Warren's 
corps and Potter's division. 

Early in the morning Potter had struck the left flank of Hill*s (Confederate) 
corps, north of the plank road, had attacked it and driven it for a time, but was 
then withdrawn further to the left to make connection with Hancock's corps. 
Here he again attacked, with Hartranft's brigade of our division on his 
left, but after a severe and bloody struggle was not able to achieve any decisive 
advantage. The connection with Hancock, whose troops lay along the Brock 
road, with his right refused, was not established. In this attack Colonel Frank 
Graves of the Eighth Michigan was killed, and the Second and Twenty-seventh 
Michigan Regiments of Hartranft's brigade, suffered severely. 

At about 3 o'clock our (Second) Brigade was also withdrawn from the Par- 
ker's Store road, and moved very rapidly back to the meadow and across Wilder- 
ness Run, and then out on the road taken by Potter's division and Hartranft's 
brigade, and plunged into the dense wilderness, thick with undergrowth. 

As we moved to the front we passed many dead and wounded, laid out in 
rows along the road, the wounded attended by the surgeons and Hospital Corps. 
We came upon Hartranft's First Brigade badly cut up and somewhat scattered 
through the woods, having been repulsed and driven back. The enemy were not 
then in sight, but the woods were still dim with the smoke of battle. ■ Here it 
was that the One Hundred and Ninth New York (Colonel B. F. Tracy's regi- 
ment) was rallied by the color guard singing "Rally Around the Flag, Boys," 
and Christ's brigade quickly formed in line on the left of Hartranft's, the col- 
onel giving the order to "Go in and give 'em hell," which we did to the best of 
our ability. 

The line swept forward in gallant style, the enemy's skirmishers (the Ninth 
Alabama) falling back before us, until the right wing of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania 
on our right struck a salient log breastwork, and received a very heavy 
fire at point blank range, losing seven killed and seventy-one wounded 
in a few minutes. The bullets flew mostly over the heads of the Twen- 
tieth, owing to the lay of the ground, and our loss was very slight. The fire 
now slackened, as it was getting dark in the woods, and we lay upon our arms 
that night, in the midst of the dead and dying. The next morning we gathered 
up the dead and buried them, and collected about 300 stands of small arms scat- 
tered through the woods. 

Captain McCollum, in his diary written on the next day (the last entry he ever 
made), says: "The slaughter had been great during the day previous, scores 
of dead of both sides were collected and identified. About the log works in 

•Hartranft's brigade had been sent earlier in the day, dcuble-quiek, to reinforce 
Potter's division, which was hard pressed in the deep woods on our left. 



I0 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



our front thirty or forty of each side could be counted by one without moving 
out of his tracks. Nearly all were shot in the head or breast." 

The enemy had disappeared from our front, having moved back toward the 
plank road. About 8 o'clock a. m., of the 7th, Robinson's division of the Fifth 
Corps, in column of battalions, moved down past our front, feeling for the 
enemy's position. This advance of Robinson was directly between the Ninth 
Corps and the Second Corps, which lay along the Brock road. During the after- 
noon the Second Brigade moved to the right, relieving the First Brigade, which, 
in turn, moved to the right and relieved Potter's division, which was sent to 
Sedgwick, north of the turnpike. 

So ended our active participation as a brigade in the battle of the Wilderness. 
The Second Division had been much more heavily engaged than the Third, and 
our brigade much less than Hartranft's. 

But the heaviest fighting of the day was along the Orange plank road, south 
of us, where Gibbon's division of the Second Corps, Getty's division of the 
Sixth and Wadsworth's division of the Fifth Corps made impetuous charges and 
forced the enemy back along that road, and victory seemed almost in their grasp, 
when Longstreet arrived upon the field and fiercely attacked across Hancock's 
left flank, and his troops were forced back to their original position in front of 
the Brock road, leaving General Wadsworth mortally wounded in the hands of 
the enemy. 

In like manner, Warren with his Fifth Corps, supported by Sedgwick's Sixth 
Corps, attacked in the morning on the Orange turnpike, west of the Germanna 
road, and though for a time successful was finally compelled to retire, with no 
positive advantage gained. 

Throughout the day, Stevenson's First Division of the Ninth Corps, was under 
Hancock's command, along the Brock road, and there rendered excellent 
service. This was especially true of Leasure's brigade, though Colonel Carruth's 
brigade lost much more heavily. The total loss in Potter's division was 562; in 
Willcox's, 521; in Stevenson's, 535; aggregate loss of the corps, 1,640. Total 
loss of the army, including cavalry, 17,666. 

The Wilderness may be regarded as a drawn battle. Lee had succeeded in 
arresting the movement of Grant to Spottsylvania and gained time to get posses- 
sion of that strong position. On the other hand he had been repulsed in every 
attack, had not broken our line, and had gained no other positive advantage, 
and had lost more in proportion than Grant had, which he could ill afford to do. 

Lee was now hurrying his columns southeastward, to get them protected be- 
tween the Po and the Ny, while Grant was determined on giving his enemy no 
chance for rest or recuperation. 

Already, on the night of the 7th, the new movement was in progress. Our 
part in that will form the subject of the next chapter. 

In the battle of the Wilderness the Twentieth Michigan had been, 'as it would 
seem, almost miraculously spared, and our loss was only nominal . 

The effective strength of the regiment as officially reported on May 9 was (pres- 
ent) 19 officers and 328 men. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



FROM THE WILDERNESS TO SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

May 6, 1864. May 9, 1864. 

No man ever saw the battle of the Wilderness. 

Generals Grant, Meade and Warren had their headquarters at the Lacey House, 
on the high hill south of the turnpike, and near its crossing of the Germanna road, 
but none of them saw, or could see, the battle. The battle was in the woods, 
and no division or brigade commander saw the entire length of his line while in 
action, unless it were along the line of the Brock road, where slashing had been 
done. All that Grant and Meade could see was the troops moving toward posi- 
tions in the woods, and the smoke of battle rising above the tops of the trees. 

It was a musketry battle. It was fought out in the underbrush, where there 
was no chance to use artillery, or to see the enemy until close upon them. 

A few guns placed on the hill at the Lacey House, fired occasional shots up the 
turnpike where Ewell's corps was hidden in the thick jungle of the Wilderness, 
and a rebel battery at Chewning's to the southwest fired a few dozen shots in re- 
ply. There was pretty heavy artillery firing on the extreme left of Hancock's 
line, where Longstreet attacked, but that was fully three miles in a right line 
from the Lacey House, or from Wilderness Tavern. But in the thick woods, 
wbere most of the fighting was done, artillery was an impossibility. 

When we made our charge just at dusk of the 6th, it was over ground that 
had been fought over two or three times already that day, and it was sprinkled 
pretty thickly with those who had fallen in the previous fighting. The under- 
growth had been literally mowed off by the musketry fire. 

The dead of the blue and the gray were not far from equal in numbers, and in 
front of the position we held the night of the 6th, where the rebels had met the 
onset of Potter's division in the morning and of Hartranft's brigade in the after- 
noon, it was easy to perceive just where their line had met the attack by the dead 
as they lay where they had fallen. That night we lay down in the midst of 
the dead and dying, while the woods were on fire only a little way from us in 
our front. 

According to all the maps of the battle of the Wilderness, including the official 
maps published by the United States, the left of the line of the Ninth Corps 
overlapped in front of the right, of the line of the Second Corps, the two lines 
being "en echelon." 

The position where the Twentieth Michigan rested that night was directly in 
front of, and less than half a mile from, the right center of Hancock's line north 



110 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



of the plank road. Had we kept on east, as we were going, after driving back the 
Ninth Alabama, we would have run into Hancock's skirmishers before we had 
gone eighty rods, and had General Potter, in the morning, pushed on south a 
quarter of a mile further from his position on our right, he would have come out 
into the clearing at "Widow Tapp's place," on the Orange plank road, a mile and 
an eighth from its intersection with the Brock road. About a quarter of a mile 
east of the Tapp place the plank road turns sharply to the northeast, and continues 
in that course until it crosses the Brock road, and it was in this angle, between 
the plank road and the Brock road, that Potter's and Willcox's divisions were 
engaged on the afternon and evening of May 6, and there our division remained 
throughout the 7th and until near morning of the 8th. 

At about i o'clock p. m., of the 7th, Potter's division was withdrawn and 
went to the support of Wright's division of the Sixth Corps, west of the Ger- 
manna plank road, north of the turnpike, and our division stretched out to the 
right to cover this line. Here we occupied breastworks which the Second Divi- 
sion had built. 

That evening the Seventy-ninth New York and the Sixtieth Ohio, which had 
not been with us since we left Warrenton Junction, arrived and took position in 
support of the first line. 

At about two o'clock on the morning of the 8th our division received orders 
to withdraw to Wilderness Tavern, and before it was daylight we had reached 
that point, the last of the army to withdraw. The brigade lay along the road 
in front of the tavern until long after sunrise, and in the meantime the Twen- 
tieth Michigan and Fiftieth Pennsylvania, with one section of Roemer's Battery, 
under command of Colonel Cutcheon of the Twentieth, were detailed as rear 
guard of the corps, which was to move via Chancellorsville, thence to the Fred- 
ericksburg and Spottsylvania road, and thence to Spottsylvania Court House, 
along the latter road. This we learned afterward. 

While we were waiting at Wilderness Tavern, General Grant and his staff and 
General Burnside and his staff were in the grove nearby. Many wagons having 
been taken for the wounded, we destroyed some ammunition by throwing it into 
Wilderness Run.. 

It was about 8 o'clock when we finally got on the road. By this time the 
enemy's cavalry skirmishers made their appearance from the direction of Orange 
turnpike, west of the Lacey House, but they did not attack. A small rear guard 
of our own cavalry was out in that direction, and a few shots were exchanged. 

The rear guard moved with the Twentieth on the right of the road, 
left in front, and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania on the left of the road, right in front, 
so that at any moment, by the simple movement of filing right and left, the two 
regiments would be brought into line of battle, faced to the rear. This was done 
several times in the course of the morning. 

When we arrived at a clearing a mile east of the tavern, we found large hos- 
pitals there, from which the wounded had not been removed. We formed line 
while all the wagons that could be had were loaded with them, but even then, 
several hundreds had to be left behind. Nothing else could be done. They were 
paroled by the enemy. 



WILDERNESS TO SPOTTSYLVANIA 



During the morning we passed over General Hooker's old fighting ground 
between Chancellorsville and Wilderness, and the signs of the conflict of 186 
were painfully evident The debris of battle and the skeletons of the dead were 
scattered everywhere throughout the woods, where the Eleventh and Twelfth 
Corps had been surprised and crushed. Fragments of guns, bayonets, haversacks 
parts of uniforms, broken canteens, and everything of the kind were scattered 
promiscuously. The traces of shallow trenches, hastily thrown up, were still 
almost as plain as a year before. Trees were cut down by cannon shots and the 
branches of the big trees lopped off, and everywhere were the scars of bullets 
upon the tree trunks, which a year of growth had only partially obscured 

At ii o clock, having moved very slowly indeed, we reached Chancellorsville 
and near a fine spring, a little southwest of the cross-roads and the rums of the 
Chancellor House, we rejoined the rest of the brigade and halted for dinner 
We rested here until about 2 o'clock, while other troops were getting on the 
road, or, perhaps, getting off the road. 

Potter's division of our corps had preceded us io Chancellorsville. and re- 
mained there after we had left. The great problem of Grants campaign was the 
handling and protection of the immense wagon trains. Cutting loose from 
his base of supplies, he had to take everything necessary along with him and the 
result was a tram which he himself said would reach from the Rapidan to Rich- 
mond. He had four thousand wagons, not counting gun carriages and caissons 
Ihese had to move by roads which would not block the troops, and yet the 
ambulances and ammunition wagons must be always at hand when needed Ade- 
quate bodies of troops must therefore be kept constantly near the trains for their 
protection. As the enemy's cavalry was perfectly familiar with this country and 
its entire topography, and- were liable to pass around our front or rear to attack 
the trams and capture supplies, it took a small army for the guard of the trains. 
The Fourth Division of our corps (Ferrero's) was assigned to this dutv until the 
army arnved at Petersburg, and meanwhile we saw nothing of them For a 
simdar reason considerable bodies of troops had to be left at important points like 
Chancellorsville to protect the immense trains en route to Fredericksburg with 
the wounded and to bring up supplies. At about 3 o'clock on the afternoon 
of Sunday, May 8 our division took the road leading southeast from Chancel- 
lorsville to Alnchs at the point where the Piney Branch church road leaves 
he old road to Fredericksburg. The distance to Alrich's farm was only about 
two miles, but the road was so obstructed and the march so difficult that it 
seemed much longer. 

r M At ^ lr i Ch 'v WC biv ° Uacked for the ni Sht Both during the march and after we 

of T H r T V ° UaC ' WC hCard heaVT fifing away t0 the south > where the battle 
ot 1 odd s 1 avern was raging. 

a J 1 ^,™? C ° rP , T 35 f ° rCing kS W3y t0 S P otts ylvania along the Brock road, 
and Sheridan with Ins cavalry was assisting and taking care of the enemy- 
cavalry m that vicinity. enemy s 

That evening about dark, Sheridan's cavalry came in along the road from the 
southwest and went into camp on the adjoining farm, where Sheridan made his 
headquarters. The Michigan cavalry brigade was camped in an orchard quite- 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



near to us, and many of our brigade went over and visited the Michigan cavalry 
camp, and met old acquaintances. 

May 9 at 4 o'clock, while it was yet dusk, we were ready to take the road, but 
we had not proceeded more than a hundred yards when Sheridan's cavalry began 
to pour out from the neighboring farm, taking the road for the famous Rich- 
mond raid. 

This delayed the brigade nearly an hour, and we then advanced toward the 
Fredericksburg and Spottsylvania Court House road, which we reached at a point 
about four miles from the latter place. 

We here changed direction to the southwest, and at about to o'clock a. m. came 
in sight of Spottsylvania Court House, from a high point in the road near the 
Beverly House, one half-mile from Ny River. Our division was the advance of 
the Ninth Corps; the Sixtieth Ohio was leading the division, with the Twen- 
tieth Michigan next in column. 

At this moment, General Willcox and staff came to the head of the column, 
and ordered a halt. 

The story of the crossing of Ny River and the engagement which ensued, 
will be told in the next chapter. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE FIGHT AT NY RIVER. 

May 9, 1864. 

The fight at NyJRiver was not a great battle. Only our division was engaged 
on our side, and two small brigades on the Confederate side. It was a good, 
lively skirmish, and as a contest for position, was important. 

The Fifth and Second Corps had moved directly down the Brock road by way 
of Todd's Tavern, until they had forced the rebels within their works, on the 
ridge at Spottsylvania, between the Po and the Ny Rivers. 

The Ny takes its rise near the Piney Branch church, about five miles north 
of Spottsylvania, and the Po rises between Todd's Tavern and Shady Grove 
church, an equal distance west of the Court House. 

The Ny flows in a southeasterly direction, passing about a mile north of the 
Court House, while the Po flows in the same general direction, passing just about 
two miles south of the Court House. About eight miles southeast, near Guiney's 
Bridge, they unite to form the Mattapony. 

Between these two rivers a ridge rises to a height of eighty to one hundred 
feet, with a broad plateau at the top, where the old court house stood. The vil- 
lage itself consisted of perhaps a dozen buildings, partially concealed behind 
a grove of pine woods. A weather-beaten court house, a typical Virginia country 
tavern, a couple of small churches, and a few weather-stained dwellings made up 
this world-famous hamlet. 

From the spot where we halted near the Beverly House, on the morning of 
May 9, we could make out the court house, with our glasses, at a distance of 
nearly two miles "as the crow flies." The Beverly House, where we stood, was 
a fine, large, white plantation house, and had not hitherto been deserted. Gen- 
eral Willcox had orders to move to a point marked on the map, "Gate," about 
half a mile north of the Beverly House, but he had no orders to cross the river. 
As we marched down from Alrich's that morning, we had heard distinctly the 
sounds of battle, both artillery and musketry, away to the westward, where the 
Brock road approaches Spottsylvania, along the ridge, midway between the 
rivers. There the other corps were all at work that morning — the Fifth and 
Sixth trying to force their way through by the Harrison and McCool places, 
and the Second Corps holding the cross-roads at Todd's Tavern, and endeavor- 
ing to turn the Confederate left by crossing the Po, far to the right of the Fifth 
and Sixth Corps. 

Soon after halting at the Beverly House, as before related, General Willcox 
and Colonels Christ and Hartranft, commanding the brigades, gathered on the 
8 



ii 4 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

grounds in front of the house, and made a careful examination of the approach 
to Spottsylvania from that direction. 

There appeared to be no large body of Confederates anywhere in sight, 
but a picket at the bridge, about a half mile distant, and a cavalry outpost at the 
crest of the hill, a half mile beyond the bridge. 

As there seemed nothing to prevent, General Willcox decided to cross the river 
and gain the crest, which would bring our advanced position within less than a 
mile of the Court House, about twice as near as Warren's and Sedgwick's corps. 
Accordingly, Willcox ordered up a section of Twitchell's battery, which took 
position in the dooryard of the Beverly House, and opened on the enemy's cavalry 
picket at the opposite crest. A few shots dispersed the picket, who retreated 
precipitately toward the Court House. 

Immediately General Willcox ordered an advance, the Sixtieth Ohio leading, 
a part deployed as skirmishers on the left of the road, and fifty men of the Twen- 
tieth, under Captain McCollum, on the right of the road, the remaining com- 
panies of the two regiments supporting the movement as a reserve, marching in 
column down the road at an interval of about 150 yards in rear of the skirmish 
line. 

The stream was quickly passed, the enemy's pickets giving back before us, 
almost without resistance. 

Immediately the skirmishers started on a rapid advance, almost double quick, 
toward the crest, supported by the Sixtieth Ohio, and they by the Twentieth 
Michigan. 

Colonel Christ, commanding the brigade, rode with the Twentieth, the Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania following next, and the First Michigan Sharpshooters, Colonel C. V. 
De Land, commanding, bringing up the rear. When the Twentieth had advanced 
about half way from the bridge to the crest, Colonel Christ directed Colonel Cut- 
cheon, commanding, to throw his regiment into a slightly sunken roadway leading 
to a house standing on a knoll about forty rods to the left, and which was at the 
time supposed to be the "Gayle place," and so called in the official reports. On the 
government maps, made after the close of the war, it is put down as the "Bev- 
erly House." The country about here seems to be supplied with Beverlys. 

The regiment at once took position in the sunken road, as a reserve. In our 
front was a wide, open field, some of it newly ploughed, extending southward 
to the line of a sunken fence, bordering a road leading southeast to the Gayle 
place beyond which road was an old pasture, grown up with small sapling pines. 

From our position in the sunken road, the fire of the Twentieth could sweep 
this whole field, except near the road, where the crest intervened. 

The Sixtieth Ohio had advanced to the crest and had been there met by a Con- 
federate regiment or small brigade, advancing on the double-quick to hold the 
ridge. Colonel Christ had thrown the Fiftieth Pennsylvania into line on the 
right of the Twentieth Michigan. 

The Sixtieth Ohio was maintaining its position valiantly, though quite a num- 
ber, both wounded and unhurt, were coming back. The Sharpshooters were 
forming for an advance, back near the river, on the left of the road, and McCol- 



FIGHT AT NY RIVER n S 



lum and his skirmishers were at the crest, along the side of a fence, on the right. 
At this juncture, the Sixtieth Ohio began to waver, and, by direction of Col- 
onel Christ, Colonel Cutcheon sent forward to their support Company D, Cap- 
tain Grant commanding, on the double quick. They came in good time, and 
greatly encouraged the Sixtieth Ohio to hold on till other reinforcements 
could arrive. 

At this time, by direction of Colonel Christ, Colonel Cutcheon also sent a 
sergeant with twelve men to take possession of the "Gayle House," on the knoll 
on the left, and Lieutenant C. A. Lounsberry with Company I, 24 men, to 
take and hold the line of the sunken fence along the road at the south edge of 
the field, until the Sharpshooters should advance. These orders were executed 
with the greatest promptness. 

Including McCollum's skirmishers, fully four companies of the regiment were 
now on the firing line. A short lull now followed, during which the First 
Sharpshooters advanced in line across the field on the left, and took possession of 
the sunken fence between Lounsberry's company and the position of the Sixtieth 
Ohio on the crest. 

These dispositions had hardly been completed when a heavy line of the enemy, 
said to be two brigades of Longstreet's corps, advanced rapidly from the direc- 
tion of the Court House, on both sides of the road. 

Before they had fairly opened fire, the Sharpshooters, through some misunder- 
standing of orders, or other cause, rose up from the sunken fence, where they had 
a most excellent position, and retreated in disorder across the open field, receiving 
a severe fire from the enemy's line as they did so. 

Things now looked critical. It would be useless here to discuss the occasion 
of this, but General Willcox attributed it to the break of the Sharpshooters. 
Colonel De Land, in his report, attributes it to the failure of the Sixtieth Ohio 
to hold its advanced position beyond the crest, which permitted, he says, an enfi- 
lading fire upon his line from the higher ground along the road; also to the 
bad practice of our batteries. 

But whatever the remote cause, the immediate cause was the failure of the 
Sharpshooters to hold their ground. 

But things quickly changed for the better. The Twentieth, by order of Col- 
onel Christ, moved on the double-quick across to the right of the road, and formed 
on the right of the Fiftieth and together with the right wing of that regiment 
charged on the double quick to the rail fence on the crest, where McCollum 
and Grant were already stubbornly fighting, just in time to drive back the enemy's 
line, which was close at hand. 

It was just here that Captain Samuel K. Schwenk of the Fiftieth (now brigade 
general, retired,) rendered most gallant service in leading the charge of his regi- 
ment. He again distinguished himself in the battle of the 12th three days later 
At the same time, the Seventy-ninth New York moved rapidly to a command- 
ing position near the Gayle (or Beverly) House, from which they charged up to 
the line which the Sharpshooters had abandoned, and the Seventeenth Michi- 
gan of Hartranft's brigade dashed up the road on the run and threw themselves 



1 16 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



into the fight' on the left of the Sixtieth Ohio, getting a raking fire on the ad- 
vancing rebel brigade, which now broke and disappeared again in the pine woods 
toward the Court House. This ended the fighting. 

The Seventeenth Michigan on this occasion displayed their usual good fighting 
qualities, and were fortunate enough to arrive on the scene at the deciding mo- 
ment. We always had pleasant relations with the regiments with which we 
were brigaded, but there were two that we regarded with positive affection — these 
were the Second and Seventeenth Michigan. At Ny River we greatly missed the 
Second, now of Hartranft's brigade, as it had been left on the north side of the 
Ny and did not participate in the fight. 

There were also two Pennsylvania regiments with which we served, and to 
which we became much attached, they were the Fiftieth, Colonel Christ's regi- 
ment, and the One Hundredth, Colonel Daniel Leasure's regiment, known as the 
"Roundheads.'' These regiments were staunch and true and never disappointed 
us in action. 

The total loss of the division, killed, wounded and missing, was 188 — a very 
small loss under the circumstances. As in the Wilderness, the Twentieth was 
extremely fortunate in the matter of casualities. 

General Willcox, in closing his report of this affair, says : "The Seventeenth 
Michigan, Colonel Luce, Twentieth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Cutcheon, 
Seventy-ninth New York, Colonel Morrison, (who was wounded), and the Six- 
tieth Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel McElroy, distinguished themselves in this affair, 
as well as Colonel Christ, commanding Second Brigade." 

We were now firmly planted on the crest on a level with the Court House, 
and within about three-fourths of a mile of that point. Batteries were now 
brought over and the afternoon was actively occupied in entrenching. 

During the afternoon the First Division. General Thomas G. Stevenson, com- 
manding, arrived and a part of them were brought over the river. The line was 
extended on the right and curved back until it rested on the Ny River, and the 
Second Michigan, Colonel Humphrey, was stationed as pickets along the north 
bank of the river, extending well up toward the Fifth Corps. 

Of the importance of the foothold so gained there can be no doubt, and had the 
entire corps been up when the first advance was made, and had the other divi- 
sions been in position to follow up the advantage when we repulsed the Confed- 
erate attack, it seems altogether likely that we might have pushed through to 
the Court House, and placed the rebel army in a precarious position. In that 
case, the movement to the North Anna would have begun not later than the 
night of the ioth of May. On the whole, it was a very neat affair, all in the 
open, on our side. 

The next morning, General Willcox issued the following congratulatory ad- 
dress to his division : 

General Field Headquarters, Detachment of Ninth Corps, Ny River, 

Orders. near Gayle's House, Virginia, May 10, 1864. 

The Brigadier General commanding wishes to congratulate the troops on their 
fine conduct yesterday, the 9th of May, at this place. The Third Division in this 



FIGHT AT NY RIVER 117 

action and that of the 6th instant in the Wilderness has begun its career hand- 
somely. * * * Among the old regiments, where all did gloriously, it would 
be difficult to single out the one which distinguished itself most. Of the new 
regiments, the Sixtieth Ohio, which led the attack finely, is entitled to honor- 
able mention. It is to be hoped that one other new regiment will soon regain 
the good name it won on the 6th instant, and came near losing yesterday. * * * 

By Command of General Willcox, 

W. V. RICHARDS, 
Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

Cool-headed and steady officers are essential to cool-headed and steady men and 
regiments, and one panicky officer can bring disaster upon an entire command. 

That the Sharpshooters were not deficient in good men and good officers was 
repeatedly demonstrated in the campaign, and they fairly earned the right to be 
counted among the fighting Michigan regiments. Never again was there occa- 
sion for criticism of that gallant regiment. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



SPOTTSYLVANIA. 

May 9, 1864. May 12, 1864. 

There are three names connected with the history of the Twentieth Michi- 
gan which always bring a shade of sadness and regret ; they are Fredericksburg, 
where we suffered so much from sickness and gloom; Spottsylvania, where we 
lost so many noble men, and "The Crater," the scene of a useless slaughter and 
unrelieved disaster, where our colors were lost. 

The name Spottsylvania comes from the old Spotswood family, who were 
among the oldest and best known in that part of Virginia. On most maps, and 
in many works of high authority the name is spelled Spottsylvania (with two 
t's), but in the government publication, "The War of the Rebellion," it is uni- 
formly spelled with a single letter t,— "Spotsylvania." Both spellings have high 
authority and either may be regarded as correct. 

The afternoon and evening of May 9 were well improved in fortifying our 
position at the crest of the hill, on both sides of the road. From the manner 
in which the regiments had come up, one at a time, the First and Second Brigades 
had become thoroughly mixed up. On the right of the road, were the Eighth 
Michigan, then the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, the Twentieth Michigan, and on their 
right, the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, Colonel Hartranft's regiment, following the 
crest around to the right, and extending by a line of pickets along a ridge at the 
west of the road nearly due north to Ny River. The Second Michigan was 
detached from the First Brigade, and deployed as pickets along the north bank of 
the Ny, to open connection with the Sixth Corps on the right. 

On the left of the road was the Sixtieth Ohio, then the Seventeenth Michigan, 
the Sharpshooters, the Twenty-seventh Michigan, the Seventy-ninth New York 
and the One Hundred and Ninth New York. 

No attempt was made to restore these regiments to their proper brigades 
until the movement on the afternoon of the nth, and meanwhile Colonel Har- 
tranft took command of the troops on the right of the road, and Colonel Christ 
of those on the left. It thus happened that we found ourselves under a new 
brigade commander from the afternoon of the 9th until the night of the nth. 
The night of the 9th was spent in quiet, though the utmost vigilance was exer- 
cised to prevent a surprise. 

On the 10th fighting began early, away across to the northwest, beyond and a 
little to the right of the Court House, where Hancock with the Second Corps 
was trying to get in rear of the Confederate left, and compel Lee to abandon his 
strong salient on the north of Spottsylvania. In that direction the fighting was 



SPOTTSYLVANIA 119 



heavy all day. The Sixth Corps was next to us on our right, but still about a 
mile away. Next came the Fifth Corps, and the Second Corps holding the ex- 
treme right of Grant's army, having crossed the Po beyond the rebel left, and 
advanced a mile or so in their rear. Here he was met by the most obstinate and 
determined resistance, and in the afternoon recrossed the Po and closed toward 
the left on the Sixth Corps, now under Major General H. G. Wright, the late 
commander, Major General John Sedgwick, having been killed in the morning by 
a sharpshooter. These two corps, together with the Fifth Corps, continued the 
assault on the line of the Brock road. 

General Lee had taken up a defensive position, extending from the River Ny 
on his right to the Po on his left, about two and one-half miles in extent; the 
right resting on the high ground at the Landrum place, the center in front of the 
McCool (or McCoul) house, and thence to the Brock road, the left resting 
on the Po River in front of the Perry place. From the salient at the McCool 
place the Confederate line made a sharp return at an acute angle, almost due 
south, until it crossed the Fredericksburg road in our front, only a few hundred 
yards east of the Court House. The distance from the Court House to McCool's 
was about a mile and a half, almost due north. Five hundred yards north of the 
McCool House was the point of the salient which became famous in history as 
"the Bloody Angle," around which the fighting raged on the 10th, nth and 12th 
of May, culminating on the last named day. The east front of the Confederate 
line was roughly parallel with the Ny River, and followed the edge of the plateau 
on which the Court House and surrounding hamlet stood. These two lines of 
Lee's army formed a "salient" nearly a mile in length by a half mile in breadth, 
thrusting its sharp angle out into the face, and it might be said into the very 
heart of the Federal position, occupied by the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps. 
The Ninth Corps, then under the immediate command of General Grant, was 
entirely detached from the other corps, and no connection was made between 
them except by picket line, until the morning of May 12. It was around the sa- 
lient, sometimes on the north, again on the west, and finally on the east that the 
severe fighting centered from the opening of the struggle on the 8th until the 
terrific combat of the 12th. 

From our position, at the crest of the Spottsylvania plateau, "the angle'' bore a 
few degrees west of north. Just at the right of the Twentieth and near the 
left of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, was an old weather-stained, deserted house, 
of which we did not then know the name, but which we afterwards ascertained 
to be one of the several "Beverly" houses. On some maps, too, it is marked as 
the "Deserted House." 

There is a serious confusion in regard to the names of these houses. The large 
house half a mile north of the Ny, where we first halted on the morning of the 
9th, is called by Generals Burnside and Willcox the "Gayle House." On the 
government map it is put down as the "Beverly House." On the other hand, 
a house standing a mile due east from the Court House, on a bare hill, is named 
on the war map the "Gayle House," while General Burnside calls it "Jett's 
House," or "Bleak Hill." 

The house before referred to, on the right of the Twentieth, stood on the ridge 



120 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



running toward the Ny, along which our breastworks extended. During the 
ioth a squad of our men occupied this house as a sharpshooter's post. From the 
upper part of the house the enemy could be plainly seen all the morning, about 
three-fourths of a mile away, a little west of north, in large numbers, busily 
engaged in carrying rails, logs and all sorts of material for the construction of 
breastworks. It was at about the point where Potter's division made its attack 
on the 12th. Perhaps it was the firing from the Deserted House that brought 
on a return fire from the Confederate sharpshooters, down toward the salient. 
About the middle of the day, Brigadier General Thomas G. Stevenson, command- 
ing the First Division, was mortally wounded by a stray bullet.* 

About the middle of the afternoon orders were received from General Burn- 
side for the troops to be ready to advance at 5 :30, all along the line. There was 
to be a simultaneous advance by the other corps, and the Ninth Corps was to 
swing forward on a general right wheel, of which the Fifty-first Pennsylvania 
and the Twentieth Michigan were to b: the pivot. Between us and the Court 
House was a pretty thick belt of pine woods, and beyond these woods was a large 
clearing extending quite up to the Court House. 

The purpose of the movement of the Ninth Corps was to throw the left of the 
line forward so as to reach this clearing beyond the woods, and bring it closer 
to the Court House. The second purpose was to develop the position and 
strength of the enemy on that part of the line, and should it be found practicable, 
to press forward and seize the Court House itself. 

This would have turned Lee's right, and forced the abandonment of his ad- 
vanced position at the salient. In other words, it was to be a reconnaissance 
or an assault, as circumstances should determine. 

It was nearly 6 o'clock when the signal guns were fired from the battery near 
the Landrum House, and all around our lines the troops moved forward. The 
Twentieth Michigan never went out to battle in finer form than they did that 
night. As the troops climbed over the breastworks, the rebel batteries up the 
road toward the Court House, opened with shrapnel and canister. 

Our line here was much curved, the Twentieth being just at the turn in the 
works, and as the troops pressed forward, the line of battle became very much 
crowded toward the left, the guide being on that side. Everything was going 
finely when, not thirty rods in front of our breastworks, a rebel shell burst over 
and in front of our regiment, severely wounding Colonel Cutcheon and mortally 
wounding Sergeant Cleveland of Company I. Colonel Cutcheon turned the com- 
mand over to Major George C. Barnes, and returned to the breastworks, where he 
was met by Surgeon Chubb, and while the wound was being dressed by the doctor, 
he fainted from loss of blood. He was then sent to the Field Hospital at the 
Harris House and on the nth to Fredericksburg. Colonel Cutcheon's wound 
proved more severe than was at first supposd, and he did not again join the regi- 
ment for duty until July 7, in front of Petersburg. 

♦It has been stated in the work called "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War" that 
General Stevenson was killed in the charge at about 6 o'clock that evening. The fact 
is that Gen. Stevenson had brought a part of his division to the south side of Ny River, 
and was sitting on the ground at the time in a little hollow near where the Twentieth 
lay in the sunken road on the morning of the 9th of May, when he was hit by a par- 
tially spent bullet, and, as before stated, mortally wounded. 



SPOTTSYLVANIA 



The regiment, under command of Major Barnes, advanced only a few rods fur- 
ther that night, and then halted and threw up a new line of breastworks; but 
the left of the corp's line swung forward, so as to cross the Fredericksburg 
road nearly 500 yards nearer the Court House than before, and a brigade on the 
left of the road was thrown forward to the clearing beyond the woods, and 
within 400 yards of the enemy's main line. All three divisions of the corps' took 
part in this advance, which proved to be no more than a reconnaissance in force, 
though the fighting on Potter's front continued until 9:30 p. m. 

That night all the Ninth corps built a new line of breastworks at the advanced 
point gained, and rested upon their arms. 

May 11 came in comparatively quiet, and both sides were resting and gathering 
up forces and making changes preparatory to the struggle of the next day. 
About the middle of the afternoon the entire Ninth Corps, except a line of 
skirmishers, left to hold the breastworks, was withdrawn to the north side of 
the Ny, in the midst of a heavy rain storm, and marched to the large clearing 
between the Beverly and Harris House, which was then our division field hos- 
pital, where a line of battle was formed, the left resting east of the Fredericks- 
burg road, and the right reaching nearly to Ny River in the direction of the 
Landrum House, where the left of Hancock's line rested. General Grant had de- 
termined to deliver a grand assault upon the enemy's salient, before daylight of the 
12th, and he seems to have planned to bring the Ninth Corps to the support of 
the Second, by moving it back across the Ny, and then west from the Beverly 
place. But whatever his first intention may have been, it was apparently aban- 
doned, for, after dark, on the night of the nth, the First and Second Divi- 
sions were again marched to the south side of the Ny, and placed in that part of 
the entrenchments formerly occupied by our division, extending from Ny River 
to the Court House road, Marshall's provisional brigade holding the line on the 
left of the road. Here they remained until about 3 o'clock a. m. of the 12th. 

Willcox's division bivouacked near the Beverly House, on the north side, and 
before daylight they, too, moved once more to the south side and took their place 
in the corps column, which was then forming on the right of the Court House 
road. This division was to be the reserve in the operations of the day. 

Hartranft's brigade preceded the Second brigade which was that morning, for a 
time, under the command of Colonel De Land of the Sharpshooters, Colonel Christ 
having been disabled the day before. Colonel (afterwards General) Hartranft, 
whose official report is one of the clearest of all, says: "At daylight on the 
morning of the 12th I moved across Ny River. The corps was being formed in 
column of brigades, my brigade forming the fifth line, with my left regiment rest- 
ing on the road, covering the left regiment of the preceding brigade, and about 
100 yards in rear of it. 

"The left regiment was the directing regiment. As the column advanced, it 
changed direction to the right, making almost a full right angle. As soon as I 
passed outside the line of rifle pits occupied the day before, I ordered two com- 
panies to the left as flankers. As the line was thus advancing, the enemy opened 
his guns on the left, enfilading the same. In obedience to orders from the 
general commanding, the front was immediately changed to the left." 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



As Christ's brigade (now in command of De Land), was ordered to support 
Hartranft's brigade, they followed the movements of that brigade. General 
Potter, commanding the Second Division, which led the column, moved further 
to the right, being ordered to connect with Hancock, and attacked well down on 
the east side of "the Bloody Angle," his right being nearly east from the "Mc- 
Cool House." 

General Thomas L. Crittenden, who had that morning taken command of the 
First (Stevenson's) Division, came up in support of Potter on his left, extending 
the line southward, toward our old line of works. Willcox remained in reserve 
under cover until after noon. 

During the morning the Second Michigan, Colonel Humphrey, commanding, 
had been brought over from the north bank of the Ny, and placed in support of 
Wright's battery, posted on the Court House road, at the point first gained on the 
9th. Later in the day, they were moved to support Roger's battery, further to 
the right and rear. During the forenoon Hartranft's brigade was formed to 
attack on the left of Crittenden's division, when he was ordered to march at 
once to General Hancock. Without even waiting to call in his skirmishers (six 
companies of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania), General Hartranft marched rapidly 
toward the right, and had gone about half a mile when the order was counter- 
manded and he was directed to return to his former position. 

On reaching it, he found that his skirmishers had been forced back, and he at 
once formed to attack. At 2 o'clock p. m.. Colonel William Humphrey, Second 
Michigan, was ordered to take command of the Second Brigade, relieving Col- 
onel De Land. 

The brigade now consisted of the First Sharpshooters, the Fiftieth Pennsyl- 
vania and the Twentieth Michigan. The Seventy-ninth New York had marched 
away to be mustered out, their time having expired, and the Sixtieth Ohio was 
still with Marshall's provisional brigade. 

Colonel Humphrey was ordered to form the brigade and charge at once. It 
was 2 p. m. when Hartranft advanced to the charge, but the artillery fire in front, 
and the musketry fire from the left, were so hot that before long the movement 
came to a stand still. 

At 2 :2s p. m. the word was given for the Second Brigade to charge. General 
Humphrey, in a letter written just before his last lamented sickness, says: 
"The regiments went in with a vim that would have carried them over the enemy's 
works had the ground between us and the works been clear, as we had a right 
to suppose, it was. I had no time to look over the ground, and in the mind of 
General Willcox, to charge and at once was the main thing. He did not know 
nor did any of our people, that the woods in front of our left sheltered counter- 
columns of attack, nor of the obstructions in front of the right. There had been 
no pickets on our front. The woods covered the movements of the enemy com- 
pletely, and we went it blind." 

The brigade line was formed with the Sharpshooters on the right, the Twen- 
tieth in the center, and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania on the left. The Sharpshooters 
on the right overlapped the Twenty- Seventh Michigan on the left of Hartranft's 
brigade. Hartranft's line consisted of the following regiments from right to left : 



SPOTTSYLVANIA I23 



Eighth Michigan, One Hundred and Ninth New York. Twenty-seventh Michi- 
gan, Fifty-first Pennsylvania (four companies). 

The Second Brigade had but three regiments. The Seventeenth Michigan was 
entirely in the pine woods to the left of the Twentieth, and both the Seven- 
teenth and the Fifty-first Pennsylvania lost their colors in those same woods 

The story of the charge is told by Colonel Cutcheon* in his" official report as 
brigade commander, as follows : "At the same time Colonel Humphrey Second 
Michigan, was assigned to the command of the brigade. About the middle of the 
afternoon the brigade was moved into position to take part in the assault The 
brigade was posted in the second line, supporting the First Brigade, General 
Hartranft commanding, in the following order from right to left : First Michi- 
gan Sharpshooters, Twentieth Michigan, Fiftieth Pennsylvania. The Second 
Michigan was detached, supporting Wright's battery on the Spottsylvania road 
All things being in readiness the charge was ordered. On the right, in front of 
the First Sharpshooters, the ground was covered with a bushy small growth of 
trees which concealed the movement of the line. On the left, in front of the 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania, was a dense growth of pine timber difficult to pass in line 
of battle. 

"But in front of the Twentieth Michigan was a strip or belt of perfectly open 
ground, "extending up quite to the enemy's works. 

'The advance was gallantly made, the line advancing about 200 yards under the 
most terrific fire of shells, canister and musketry. Under this fire the first line 
was soon checked and melted away. The second line, however, with such of the 
first line as joined it in the advance, pushed forward rapidly and steadily until 
within a short distance of the enemy's works. * * * The Twentieth Michi- 
gan, owing to the openness of the ground over which they had to move ad- 
vanced faster and farther than the others, suffering severely, losing almost 'one- 
half o.f their number in a few moments. * * * During the few minutes that 
the brigade lay ,n this position, a brigade of the enemy had passed around our 
left, and charged, with the purpose of capturing the batteries supported by the 
Second Michigan. 

"Pending the melee in the woods. Major George C. Barnes, commanding the 
Twentieth Michigan, discovered that the enemy was closing up on his rear and 
unless he took immediate steps to prevent it, his regiment would be captured 
entire. He therefore moved rapidly by the left flank into the woods, and filing 
to the left, brought his regiment facing to the left flank. He found himself 
confronted by the disordered fragments of two rebel brigades, and almost sur- 
rounded. 

"With the men still about him, however, he attacked boldly and cut his way 
out with a loss of only thirty missing, most of whom have since been found to 
have been wounded. Major Barnes behaved with the most reckless bravery 
exposing himself where it seemed impossible for a man to live, encouraging and 
steadying his men, regardless of danger. He deserves most honorable mention 
He has since fallen at his post. The regime nt at large did all that men could 

re^rTo^This^ca^TaiJn. 031116 t0 the C ° mmand of the bri ^ ade *nd ™de the official 



124 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

do under the circumstances, and most of them were at some stage of the fight 
prisoners, and some were captured and recaptured several times." 

Captain Charles T. Allen, Company B, writing of this charge, December, 1901, 
says : "Humphrey on the line, as marked in sketch. He was riding up our line 
to the right. In a moment I had fallen. I remained on my side a little time, 
saw our regiment advance grandly in an unwavering line up through the open 
field. The firing from the rebel battery was fearful, one continuous roar of shot 
and shell." 

Colonel C. B. Grant, who was acting major that day, writes: "Just before the 
charge we lay near our battery, which was supported by the Second Michigan, 
just near the brow of the elevation. Before this we had been further to the 
left, and had moved to the right. While lying there before the order 
was given to charge, we were severely shelled, one shell killing four men. 
* * * There was an open piece of woods to our right, and another one to our 
left, containing more underbrush, as I remember, mainly of hardwood. It was 
in these woods that that soldiers of both sides were captured and recaptured sev- 
eral times. When we reached the most advanced position of the charge, I was 
at the right of the regiment and discovered that we were being shot from the 
woods at the left. I immediately ran along the line to inform Major Barnes, 
who was in command of the regiment, I being the acting major. The bullets 
and shells made such a noise that it was impossible to hear any command ten 
feet away. Major Barnes, by motion of his hands, rather than by voice, gave 
the order to move by the left flank and charge into the woods, which we did. 
Our regiment was in an open space between the two woods." 

So ended the bloody charge of the Twentieth Michigan at Spottsylvania. The 
loss of the regiment, as officially reported at the time, was four officers and 
thirteen men killed, three officers and seventy-nine men wounded, and forty-four 
missing. Many of the missing were afterwards found to have been wounded, 
and some of them died of their wounds. Total loss, 143. The officers killed 
were Captains McCollum and R. P. Carpenter, two of the most accomplished and 
most valuable officers of the regiment, and Lieutenants Ainsworth and Gould. 
The latter was mortally wounded and died in the hands of the enemy. All 
these officers exhibited the utmost gallantry. Captain Carpenter fell early in the 
charge, but McCollum on the most advanced line. As there was no truce for 
recovering, and burying the dead, the body was left upon the field, though his 
sword and revolver and papers were removed and saved by Sergeant Holmes. 
Among the valuable non-commissioned officers killed in the action was Orderly 
Sergeant Frank Kingsley of Company H. 

From a record made by one of the officers of the regiment, it is believed that 
the final outcome of the losses of the regiment at Spottsylvania, deducting from 
the "missing" those known to have been killed or wounded, was as follows : 

Officers, killed, 4; wounded, 2; total, 6. Enlisted men, killed, 16; wounded, 
102; total, 118. Missing, 19. Total loss, 143. 

The regiment went into the charge with about 300 men. This was the most 
costly day in the whole history of the regiment. 



SPOTTSYLVANIA 125 



Other regiments, among them, the Seventeenth Michigan, lost much more 
heavily in prisoners, the larger part of the regiment being taken with their 
colors and lieutenant colonel commanding. 

The regiments all behaved with great gallantry, and the Sharpshooters proved 
themselves worthy comrades of the veteran Michigan regiments, and never 
afterwards fell below that high standard. 

So far as immediate results were concerned, our losses seemed in vain, though 
they doubtless counted in the final result in wearing out the forces of the Con- 
federacy. 

The success further to the right, at the "Bloody Angle," where Hancock put 
in his entire corps, was most dearly bought. Nothing but a complete success 
by crushing the enemy's line, and breaking his power of immediate resistance, 
could have compensated for the fearful losses of the 9th, 10th, nth and 12th of 
May, 1864. No more terrible fighting was ever witnessed anywhere in the world, 
and on the 12th it continued all day. But we cannot tell that story. 

The grass now grows green where that most bloody tragedy was enacted, and 
many of the scars of war have healed, and a reunited nation rejoices in its re- 
newed strength and in its increased power and glory. But if we could enter into 
the secret life of the mothers, wives, sisters and friends of the men who fell at 
Spottsylvania, and could count the pains and life-long sufferings of the wounded, 
we would gain some conception of the fearful cost at which this nation was 
sa^ed. 

In Appendix G "Wilderness Campaign" will be found some of the official 
correspondence on the field, which will throw much light on the actions of the 
9th and 12th of May, 1864. 

In conclusion, if there was any officer or man cf the Twentieth Michigan 
who did not do his whole duty on that day, the writer has never heard of it. 

Conrad Noll, Co. D, afterward received the "Congressional Medal of Honor" 
for distinguished bravery in this battle, but, as was true at Horseshoe Bend, 
there were scores who merited it. 



CHAPTER XX. 



FROM SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG. 
May 13, 1864. June 16, 1864. 

NORTH ANNA — BETHESDA CHURCH. 

After the charge of May 12 had failed and the melee in the woods on the left 
of our brigade was at an end, the rebels getting off with several hundred pris- 
oners and we doing the same, the division, or what v/as left of it, was drawn 
back from the woods, and constructed a new line of entrenchments, connecting 
with the old line which we had occupied until the afternoon of the nth. 

It had rained by turns throughout the day, and continued to rain a good 
part of the night. 

General Grant had intended to renew his attack on the morning of the four- 
teenth at daybreak, and an attempt was made to move the Fifth and Sixth Corps 
past the rear of the Ninth, so as to assault on the east of the Court House. 
The movement commenced at about 1 o'clock on the night of the 13th, but the 
rain was so incessant and the mud so deep that the column failed to reach the 
designated position, and the attack had to be abandoned. 

Willcox's division remained in substantially the same place where the night of 
the 12th found it until the night of the 18th, when it was about to move to the 
left, but just as the troops were withdrawing, the enemy attacked us on our 
right, and the movement was postponed until the morning of the 19th. 

At 3 o'clock a. m. of the 19th, the Ninth Corps moved from their entrench- 
ments west of the Fredericksburg pike, crossed the Court House road and 
marched about two miles to the left (southeast), and took position next on the 
left of the Sixth Corps, Willcox's division being on the right of its corps. 
Our corps had no fighting on this day, but just before evening, Hill's and 
Ewell's corps of Lee's army came out near the "Angle," crossed the Ny River 
midway between the Landrum House road and the Fredericksburg pike, and 
attacked General Tyler's provisional division near the Harris House, and 
attempted to gain possession of the Fredericksburg road. A sharp engagement 
ensued around the Harris House, but the attack was finally repulsed by rein- 
forcements from the Second and Fifth Corps. 

May 20 was a quiet day. At 9 p. m. on the 21st the division marched in a 
southeast direction, keeping mostly on the east side of Ny River, and reached 
Guiney's Station on the Richmond & Fredericksburg Railroad on the morning 
of the 22d; marched from there at 10:30 a. m., and at 4:30 p. m. passed White 
Oak (or Bethel) Church, where Generals Grant and Meade then had their head- 
quarters, and camped one and one-half miles beyond it. 






SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG 127 



May 23 marched from Bethel Church to Ox Ford (or Oxford) on the North 
Anna River, and there our division relieved Mott's brigade of the Second 
Corps. Willcox's division occupied the north side of the ford that night with 
orders to assault in the morning, and carry the ford. Dispositions were made 
accordingly. Rifle pits were thrown up along the north bank of the river, and 
the Fiftieth Pennsylvania took possession of an island in the river as an ad- 
vanced post. The Twentieth Michigan was ordered to lead the assault, in 
forcing the crossing. Upon reconnaissance of the enemy's position, however, 
it was found so strong and the prospect of success so doubtful that, most for- 
tunately for us, the attack was abandoned. 

General Lee had chosen his position at North Anna with his usual skill, both 
from an engineering and strategic standpoint. His right wing covered Hanover 
Junction on the Richmond & Potomac Railroad, his left extending across the 
Central Virginia Railroad in front of Anderson's Station, with a strong second 
line a half mile in rear, resting on Little River at Newmarket. The center of 
his line lay along the south bank of the North Anna, from Oxford to a point 
three-fourths of a mile below, and was itself a natural fortress, the banks being 
high and rocky, and thoroughly screened with woods. 

Admirable locations for artillery had been selected, and the entire position 
formed a right angle, with the salient at Oxford, not unlike the salient at 
Spottsylvania Court House. 

The 25th and 26th of May were occupied in sharpshooting, while fighting was 
going on upon our right by the Fifth Corps and Crittenden's division of the 
Ninth, and on the left by the Second Corps, reinforced by Potter's division. 

On the morning of the 27th the brigade, once more under the command of 
Colonel B. C. Christ, marched to gain the crossing of the Pamunkey River at 
Hanovertown. Taking an easterly route we marched nearly to the Mattapony 
River at Reedy Mill, thence almost due south to Mangohick Church, and at 
about midnight of the 28th crossed the Pamunkey near Hanovertown, and, at 
1 a. m., bivouacked about a mile beyond the river, eighteen miles from Rich- 
mond. This was one of the hardest day's marching the regiment ever had. 
The distance made was twenty-two miles, the roads were sandy and dusty, and 
the men suffered a good deal from heat and thirst. After a few hours of rest, 
the division moved forward and took up position near Haw's Shop, about 
three miles from the point of crossing the Pamunkey. There was some skir- 
mishing during the day, but the Twentieth Michigan was not engaged. A detail 
of 100 men, under command of Colonel Humphrey, was made from the regiment 
to reconnoitre to the left toward Totopotomy Creek. After going out a mile 
or more to the left, and not finding the enemy, the brigade moved back and 
camped that night toward Hanovertown. 

On the morning of May 30 the entire corps advanced to the southwestward, 
and forced the crossing of Totopotomy Creek, and took up position on the south 
side, with its right near the Whitlock House, just south of the south bend of 
the Totopotomy, and the left on the Shady Grove Church road, the line facing 
nearly west, the left of our corps line being about two miles northwest of 
Bethesda Church. There was constant skirmishing all day. 



128 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

May 31 our brigade was in support of the First Brigade, Colonel Hartranft 
commanding, skirmishing all day, and at night threw up a new line of works 
within 200 yards of the enemy's main line. 

June t. — Of this day General Willcox in his official report, says: "Toward 
dusk an attack was made on the Fifth Corps and First Division of the Ninth 
Corps immediately upon my left. The latter had their right across the road, 
and at this point were driven in, exposing my Second Brigade's left, which I 
threw back slightly, and which held its own supported by a regiment of Har- 
tranft's brigade, until the First Division troops were rallied and the line re- 
established. 

"My troops behaved with the utmost coolness and gallantry under circum- 
stances so trying." 

General Willcox further says : "June 2 marched to Bethesda Church with the 
First and Second Divisions. The enemy pressed down the road taken by the 
First Division, but was held in check by the Twentieth Michigan, of Christ's 
brigade, until the First Division formed to resist an attack, which followed 
heavily, the enemy capturing an old line of works hastily occupied by the First 
Division. No other troops of mine but the Twentieth Michigan were engaged 
in the affair." 

Colonel Christ, commanding the brigade at this time, made no report of this 
campaign, and therefore we have no record of his understanding of the affair. 
Colonel Cutcheon in his official report, made up according to information ob- 
tained from regimental commanders afterward, says : "On the 2d of June, 
as the brigade was leaving its position about Bethesda Church to move to 
the vicinity of Cold Harbor, the movement being delayed by some cause, and 
the troops at this time in column of route, the Twentieth Michigan was sent back 
to guard the rear by picketing two roads near their junction, on which the 
enemy was advancing. 

"Major Barnes had not yet completed the deployment, when he was suddenly 
struck by the skirmishers of the enemy, supported by two lines of battle. The 
regiment stood its ground as long as possible and then fell back and took posi- 
tion on the reverse side of an old line of rifle pits. Here they were reinforced 
by the troops of Marshall's (provisional) brigade, but soon after dark the 
enemy again attacked in force. The Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery 
broke, leaving one flank of the Twentieth exposed. Major Barnes deployed his 
men in a thin line and maintained his position. The Twenty-fourth New York 
Cavalry (dismounted), not at that time attached to this brigade, also stood its 
ground well, and these two regiments repulsed the attack. Before midnight 
the Twenty-fourth withdrew, leaving the Twentieth Michigan entirely isolated, 
with no connection on its right or left. Major Barnes therefore moved by the 
flank and made connection with the Second Division, Ninth Corps, where he 
remained until daylight. At one time during the fight the regiment (Twentieth 
Michigan) had not two rounds of ammunition to the man. On this occasion 
Major Barnes displayed his usual bravery and coolness, and by his prompt dis- 
positions when the attack was first made, did much to prevent unfortunate 
results. I cannot but feel that considerable credit is due the regiment for main- 



SPOTTSYLVANIA TO PETERSBURG 129 

taining their ground when their support had been withdrawn from both flanks 
and their ammunition exhausted." 

The loss of the regiment in this affair was three killed, 19 wounded and thir- 
teen missing. 

On the next day, June 3, the regiment was in the second line in support of 
the First Brigade. Loss on this day, one officer wounded, one man killed and 
fifteen men wounded. The fighting was extremely heavy on the left, near Cold 
Harbor. 

June 4. — The division moved about two miles to the left, and took position 
near the "Woody House," in a line of works previously occupied by the Second 
Corps. This line was one mile nearly due north from "Old Cold Harbor," and 
faced nearly toward the north, and formed the new right flank of the position 
of the army. On this day the Forty-sixth New York Veteran Volunteers re- 
turned to the brigade. 

The regiment remained in this position, building forts and breastworks and 
taking their turn in skirmishing, until June 12. when, at 5 o'clock in the evening, 
they started on their great flank march to cross James River, and attempt to 
seize Petersburg, where they arrived on the morning of June 16, after a most 
arduous and exhausting march. 

During this period, the services of the regiment were most severe and trying, 
but still there was nothing distinctive that requires special mention, after the 
affair at Bethesda Church. 

On June 9, the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry (dismounted) were trans- 
ferred from the First Division and assigned to the Second Brigade. 

By this time the regiment had been reduced by its severe losses to less than 
one-half of the number of men it had at the opening of the campaign. Sergeant 
Arnold, Company D, records in his diary under date of June 3: "We now 
stack 140 guns." But the regiment had honored every demand upon it, and had 
won the admiration and praise of General Willcox and of all who commanded 
it. Major Barnes had repeatedly distinguished himself, and all, officers and men, 
had acquitted themselves gallantly. 
9 



CHAPTER XXI. 



IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG. 

June 15, 1864. June 20, 1864. 

The flank movement of General Grant's army from Cold Harbor to Peters- 
burg, a distance of about fifty miles, including the passage of James River by 
an army of about a hundred thousand men, with all its trains, at a point where 
the river was fully 700 yards wide, and about 80 feet in depth, was not only one 
of the greatest strategic feats of the war, but it was one of the greatest of its 
kind in the military history of the world. 

It would be most interesting to follow this movement in detail, from the time 
it commenced on the evening of June 12, until the afternoon of the 16th, when 
nearly all the Army of the Potomac, except the Sixth Corps, which acted as 
rearguard, covering the trains and bridges, had arrived and taken up their posi- 
tions in front of Petersburg. 

The report of our division commander, General Willcox, covers this part of 
the campaign in three lines, as follows : 

"June 12— In the night marched for James River via Tunstall's Station, crossed 
the Chickahominy River on the 13th at Jones Bridge, and the James on the 
15th near Wilcox's Landing." 

And this is all that is told of one of the most severe marches and one of the 
most important strategic movements the division ever made. 

The official report of the brigade commander is even briefer, simply stating 
that on the 16th of June "the brigade appeared before Petersburg." 

The regimental report of this part of the campaign was written by Major 
C. B. Grant, who took command of the regiment on June 18, after Major 
Barnes had fallen, mortally wounded. It is also quite brief, as follows : "June 
12 we withdrew from Cold Harbor, bringing up the rear of the division as rear- 
guard, which duty we performed until 11 p. m. of the 13th of June. Reached 
James River at 6 .30 p. m. of the 14th of June, and sent out seventy-five men 
on picket. On the 15th crossed the James River, marched all night and took 
up position in front of Petersburg." 

It would seem from this, as the regiment "marched all night," that it must 
have arrived in front of Petersburg on the morning of the 16th. 

Colonel William Humphrey, then commanding the Second Michigan, in Har- 
tranft's (First) brigade, in his official report, says: "At 10 p. m. of the 12th 
of June, the regiment with the brigade withdrew from its position about Cold 
Harbor and took up its line of march for James River, going via Tunstall's 
Station, and crossing the Chickahominy at Jones' Bridge, reaching Wilcox's 



IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG 131 

Landing on the James about 5 p. m. of the 14th. On the evening of the 15th 
crossed the river and moved direct for Petersburg, before which place we arrived 
about 3 p. m. of the 16th." 

More satisfactory than any of these official reports is the record in the diary 
of Sergeant George B. Arnold of Company "D," as follows : 

"June 12. — Everything quiet until 5 p. m., when we received orders to 
move. Moved at 8 p. m. ; marched all night in the direction of White House 
Landing. 

"June 13. — Halted at 5 this morning for coffee. Laid there until 8 a. m. 
Went within three miles of White House Landing and turned to the right; 
went in the direction of Hare Landing on James River; went within three miles 
of Chickahominy River and went into camp at 11 o'clock at night. Marched 
twenty miles. Our regiment was rearguard for the corps. 

"June 14. — Up at 4. Marched at 4 130 a. m. ; crossed the Chickahominy River 
at 6 a. m. at Jones' Landing ; halted one mile west for coffee ; marched eight 
miles further and went into camp one mile from James River at 1 p. m. ; made 
eleven miles today. 

"June 15. — Laid in camp till 7 p. m., when received orders to march; marched 
at p. m.; crossed the river on pontoons at 12 midniglit. It was a mile wide 
where we crossed. 

"June 16. — We marched all night in the direction of Petersburg; halted at 
8 a. m. for coffee; rested till 10 a. m. ; marched to within four miles of Peters- 
burg, and formed line of battle in support of the First Brigade. The regiments 
went on picket, skirmishing all night." 

This is by far the most intelligible and satisfactory account of this march that 
we have been able to find. There is one error, however, which should be cor- 
rected, that is, as to the length of the pontoon bridge. General Grant in his report 
says it was 700 yards or 2,100 feet in length. It was located near Fort Pow- 
hattan or Wilcox's Landing, and the corps after crossing, marched on the road 
to Old Prince George Court House, and thence by the most direct road, coming 
upon the Petersburg line east of Harrison Creek and between the "Dunn 
House" and the "Shand House," the interval corresponding with the line after- 
ward included between Fort Stedman and Fort Morton. 

The Eighteenth Corps had carried the extreme right of the enemy's line from 
Appomattox River to near the Dunn House, on the 15th. 

On the 16th the Second Corps had advanced and seized the "Hare House" 
on the high hill where Fort Stedman was afterward built. 

The "Shand House" stood on the east side of Harrison Creek, and three- 
fourths of a mile due east of the site of Fort Morton. Harrison Creek took its 
rise on the Shand place in an almost impervious swamp, and flowed nearly due 
north about parallel with the Confederate lines, and emptied into the Appo- 
mattox River between Fort McGilvery and Battery V. 

All members of the old brigade will remember Harrison Creek as the small 
stream which flowed near our brigade headquarters when they were situated 
in rear of Fort McGilvery and Battery Nine, during the winter of 1864-65. 

They will also remember the dense swamp in which it took its rise, east of 



i 3 2 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Fort Morton, extending northward from the wide plain to the south and east of 
the "Shand House," near which General Willcox had his headquarters in the 
summer, as far north as the "Dunn House," or Fort Stedman. 

A little north of the Shand House the Harrison Creek Swamp divided, the 
lesser branch extending north and east of the house, and the main part being 
a deep ravine with steep sides, extending west of the Shand House and nearly half 
a mile past it to the southward. In the forks of these two branches, on the high 
ground north of the Shand House, was Confederate Redoubt No. 14, being a part 
of their main exterior line. 

East of the Shand House was the wide plain along which the military railroad 
was afterward built. 

It was upon this plain, near to the Shand House and east of the swamp, that 
the Twentieth, with the rest of Willcox's division, first formed line of battle in 
front of Petersburg. But no attack was made by the Second Brigade that night. 
It will be noticed that Sergeant Arnold says that the Second Brigade "formed 
line of battle in support of the First Brigade." As Colonel Humphrey says that 
the First Brigade arrived at about 3 p. m., it must have been quite late in the 
afternoon when the line of battle was formed. The brigade then went on picket 
in front of the position held by the Second Corps, further to the right. 

At 3 o'clock on the morning of the 17th, Potter's division, Griffin's brigade on 
the right and Curtin's on the left, rushed to the works at the "Shand House," and 
Redoubts 14 and 15 on the right and left, taking the line with the bayonet, and 
capturing four cannon, five stands of colors, 600 prisoners, and 1,500 stands of 
small arms, with very small loss upon our part. The enemy was completely 
surprised. This was one of the most brilliant strokes made by our side in 
the operations against Petersburg. 

On the west side of the Harrison Creek Swamp, and between it and "the belt 
of woods" which extended along the ridge back of the site of Fort Morton, the 
Confederates had constructed a second line of works, with infantry parapets and 
artillery emplacements, which commanded the open field eastward to the ravine 
of Harrison Creek. This second line extended along the west slope of the 
valley of Harrison Creek, though not continuously, as far north as the City 
Point Railroad. 

This line terminated a little south of "the belt of woods." This point in the 
open field formed a most important salient in the enemy's line, and was really 
the key to their defensive position north of the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad. 

It was absolutely essential to carry this point before further advance could 
be made on the right and left. The elaborate Confederate outer line of forts, 
extending east of and nearly parallel with Harrison Creek, from the Friend 
House on the north to Redoubt No. 14, north of the Shand House, had been 
carried by the Eighteenth and Second Corps, but the rest of the outer line, from 
the Shand House to the Norfolk Railroad was still in their possession. 

It was therefore essential for the enemy to hold this second line west of Har- 
rison Creek while the new permanent line from Cemetery Hill to the Jeru- 
salem plank road was being fortified. 

Early on the morning of June 17th, General Willcox received orders to assault 



IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG 133 

this position between the Harrison Creek Swamp and the "belt of woods." 
Hartranft's brigade had been on duty in the lines further to the right through 
the night, and had to be moved by the left flank in rear of the Second Corps, 
and through the tangled thickets along Harrison Creek. This consumed much 
time. The division was finally formed with Hartranft's brigade in the first 
line, and Christ's (Second) brigade in the supporting line. 

Hartranft's brigade was formed with the left in the open ground beyond the 
swamp, and the right thrown back into the ravine, the Second Michigan having 
the right of the line. 

According to General Hartranft's report, it was 2 o'clock p. m. when the order 
was finally given for the charge. But when the advance was made, a wrong 
point of direction was given to the First Brigade by Major Morton, engineer 
on General Burnside's staff. This charge was made across a plowed field, and so 
great a cloud of dust was raised by the advance and by the missiles of the enemy, 
that it was impossible to see the enemy's works. The result was that the line 
of the First Brigade swung to the right, and swept along northward in front 
of the rebel line, instead of across it. The left of the first line struck the rebel 
breastwork and was nearly annihilated. 

The First Brigade melted away under the murderous flanking fire, and 
Colonel Christ's brigade advanced about half way from the ravine to the rebel 
works, and finding the first line gone, lay down there and threw up slight, tem- 
porary entrenchments. Here they held on till night, when they participated in 
a second assault in conjunction with Ledlie's First Division. 

In this charge the First Michigan Sharpshooters struck a salient of the 
enemy's works, and carried the point in a aesperate hand-to-hand conflict, in 
which that regiment captured three officers and 86 enlisted men and a stand of 
colors. But the enemy, having been reinforced, returned to the fight with the 
result, after another desperate struggle, that 77 of the Sharpshooters, including 
their adjutant, were taken prisoners of war. The gallant captain, Levant C. 
Rhines, commanding the regiment in the attack, was killed in the final struggle. 
This ended the fighting of our brigade for the day, in which the Twentieth 
Michigan took no distinctive or separate part. 

During the night of the 17th, the enemy retired about three-quarters of a mile, 
and took up a new position behind the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad on the 
slope of the ridge back of Taylor's (or Poor) Creek, known as Cemetery Hill, 
where the battle of the Crater was fought on July 30. 

"On June 18," says General Willcox in his official report, "at about 4:30 a. m., 
I was ordered to move forward again and attack. A party of skirmishers was 
sent out in advance to feel for the enemy, and reported that the latter had 
fallen back, and with skirmishers deployed I moved on, Hartranft's brigade 
in front, across the fields and into the woods, toward the Taylor House." This 
was the "belt of woods" so often mentioned, just east of the site of Fort Mor- 
ton. The "Taylor House," it should be explained, stood near the site of Fort 
Morton, north of the Norfolk Stage road, also known as "the Baxter road," 
which came up the hill a little south of Fort Morton, and passed along the 
south end of the "belt of woods." The "Taylor House" site was a commanding 



i 3 4 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

position, and the ground sloped rapidly to the westward — toward the city— the 
line of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, making a deep cut along the lower 
face of the slope. At the foot of the hill flows "Taylor's Creek," and about 
175 yards beyond it, on the opposite slope, was the new rebel line. This line 
had been skilfully laid down, so that this whole railroad cut was swept and 
enfiladed by both musketry and artillery, from a point a few hundred yards to 
our right, near the railroad bridge across Taylor's Creek. 

Major Grant's report of this day's operations is incorporated in full in Colonel 
Cutcheon's regimental report, which will be found in the appendix. 

It is brief, and as follows : "On the 18th of June the regiment made a charge 
across a wide, open field and through a deep cut on the Suffolk Railroad, suffer- 
ing very severely from a galling cross-fire. Then charged again from the rail- 
road up to within 160 yards of the enemy's works, and threw up the rifle pits. 
Our loss on this day was about half the effective force engaged." 

Colonel Cutcheon's report as brigade commander, bearing date "Near Poplar 
Springs Church, October 23, 1864," gives the story of the day as follows: 

"June 18, at daylight, it was found that the enemy had retired during the night 
and taken up a new line on Cemetery Hill, beyond the Suffolk (should.be Nor- 
folk) Railroad. The brigade advanced in line of battle through a thick belt 
of pine timber and emerged into an open field of grain, sloping gradually toward 
the railroad and the enemy's works. 

'The Sixtieth Ohio was deployed as skirmishers, facing to the right, to protect 
that flank. The remnant of the First Michigan Sharpshooters was engaged 
in throwing up works for Roemer's Battery, near the edge of the above men- 
tioned belt of timber. About half of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania was also employed 
as flankers on the right. The remainder of the brigade charged in line for a 
quarter of a mile across the open field, suffering severely from a galling fire 
from a very long line of the enemy's rifle pits. The railroad cut was reached, 
but it afforded no shelter, for it was enfiladed by a storm of bullets. 

"The men attempted to climb out of this cut, but only to be mercilessly shot 
down and to fall back among their comrades. The loss at this point was severe. 
Toward evening another advance was made, which was pushed to within 150 
yards of the enemy's line. Here the men constructed slight works for their 
protection, and before morning the brigade was relieved and moved to the rear. 
In the charge of the 18th, Major George C. Barnes, commanding the Twentieth 
Michigan, was mortally wounded. He was an officer of chivalrous bravery, 
and I have had occasion to mention his valuable services more than once. He 
was a born soldier, and he died like a soldier, leading his command." 

Major Barnes fell in the charge across the field, about half way between the belt 
of woods and the railroad cut. 

Fort Morton should have borne the name of Major Barnes, who fell almost 
upon the very spot where it stood rather than that of Major Morton, who was 
mortally wounded in the Harrison Creek Swamp on the 17th, a full half mile 
in the rear. 

During this day three different brigade commanders were successively wounded 
and retired from the field; namely, Colonel B. C. Christ, Fiftieth Pennsylvania; 



IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG 135 

Colonel Raulston. Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, and Lieutenant Colonel 
Travers, Forty-sixth New York. The latter was succeeded by Lieutenant Col- 
onel W. C. Newberry, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry. 

In addition to Major Barnes, commanding the regiment, mortally wounded, 
the Twentieth Michigan lost Captain W. A. Dewy, Company A. and Lieutenant 
George B. Hicks, Company C, killed, and three other officers wounded; also ten 
enlisted men killed and forty-one wounded. In proportion to the number ac- 
tually engaged, this loss was greater even than that on the 12th of May at 
Spottsylvania Court House. 

On the morning of the 19th the second Michigan was transferred from the 
First Brigade to the Second and Colonel William Humphrey was once more 
assigned to the command of the brigade, which he did not again relinquish 
until mustered out of the service, on September 30, 1864. 

Colonel B. C. Christ, wounded on the 18th, did not again return to the com- 
mand of the brigade, and mustered out at the same date with Colonel Hum- 
phrey. 

On the fall of Major Barnes, Captain C. B. Grant, Company D, who had been 
acting as field officer, took charge of the regiment, which he continued to hold 
until July 7, when Colonel Cutcheon returned from hospital and resumed com- 
mand, which he retained until assigned to the command of the brigade, October 
16, 1864. 

The assaults upon the Petersburg lines, commenced by the Eighteenth Corps 
on the 15th of June, continued by the Second Corps on the 16th and repeated by 
tne Second, Fifth and Ninth on the 17th and 18th, having all failed to crush 
the enemy's defense, and General Lee having by this time concentrated his army 
from the north of the James River, General Grant now sat down to besiege the 
place. 

The attempt to carry the place by assault had proved a costly one. The 
total loss of the Army of the Potomac in the four days' fighting was upward of 
10,500 in killed, wounded and missing. Loss of the Ninth Army Corps, 2,091 ; 
of Willcox's division, 1,408; of Christ's brigade, 827; of the Twentieth Michi- 
gan, 69. 

This closes the first epoch of the Petersburg campaign. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG— BATTLE OF THE CRATER,. 

June 20, 1864. August 1, 1864. 

The assaults upon the Petersburg lines having failed, as above stated, 
General Grant now determined to reduce the place by siege. The siege 
operations, however, were combined with, and from time to time, supplemented 
by field movements upon both flanks of the army and upon both sides of James 
River. 

But whatever else was doing, the siege of Petersburg went steadily on, never 
ceasing, never relaxing, until the final break up came in the early days of April, 
1865. 

During the siege the part of the Twentieth Michigan was not so distinct from 
the general operations of the brigade and division as to require much detailed and 
separate account. The official reports in the appendix will afford an outline of 
the more important events, and the connecting narrative might very well be 
brief. But for special reasons connected with the '"battle of the Crater," it is 
proposed to treat that important event as a whole. First, it is impossible to 
separate the story of the Twentieth Michigan from the general action; second, 
the battle was fought entirely by the Ninth Army Corps, and upon a field so 
circumscribed, that the entire battle came under the observation of the writer; 
third, there has been more discussion and conflict of opinion in regard to the 
battle of the Crater than almost any other event of the war. It resulted in a 
long congressional investigation and a military court of inquiry, terminating in 
the removal of General Burnside from his command, and the censure of other 
officers of the corps. In the hope of throwing some light of historic value upon 
this much discussed and deplorable disaster, the usual rule will not be closely 
adhered to. 

On the morning of June 19 the regiment was withdrawn from the front line 
west of Taylor's Creek, where it lay within 150 yards of the enemy's main line, 
and was encamped in "the belt of the woods," back of the site of Fort Morton, 
and near the "Taylor House," which occupied that site. 

On June 20, at 10 p. m., with the rest of the division, it moved to the right, 
to the vicinity of the "Hare House" (near where Fort Stedman was afterward 
built), and relieved a division of the Second Corps, next to the Eighteenth 
Corps. It remained here until 2 o'clock on the morning of June 24, when it was 
relieved by troops of the Tenth Corps, and the brigade moved back to a position 
in the main line, just at the left of the road, then known as the "Suffolk road" 
or the "Baxter road," which passed through our lines a little to the left (south) 
of the position occupied by the regiment on the night of June 18. 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 137 



The road-bed of the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad passed a little in rear 
of the brigade line ; and in front of our line, through a little valley, ran Taylor's 
Creek— a mere brook— which took its rise between the lines in front of Fort 
Rice, about half a mile to our left. 

On the south side of the Suffolk or Baxter road, and almost directly in our front, 
on the Confederate line was a two-gun battery, known to us then as the "Suffolk 
Road Battery," and to the Confederates as "Davidson's Battery." It was dis- 
tant from the right of our regiment, about 1S0 yards. It played an important 
part in the battle of the Crater, July 30, 1864. 

Our picket line was advanced beyond Taylor's Creek; and not only the pick- 
ets, but the main lines were so near to each other as to be in almost point-blank 
range. 

Few days passed that some one in the brigade was not killed or wounded. 
To show one's head above the breastwork was almost sure to bring a bullet 
within uncomfortable nearness. This life soon became monotonous, and the 
men became so accustomed to the danger that they exposed themselves in- 
cautiously, if not recklessly. 

In a little grove of trees on the right of the Baxter road was an ice house, 
or, rather, ice-well, sunk into the ground. In the bottom of this ice-well was a 
small quantity of ice, protected by straw, and many a man exposed his life, and 
several lost their lives, while endeavoring to secure a small piece of this ice. 
Where the regiment lay was a narrow ridge, which broke down sharply in 
front, to Taylor's Creek, and in the rear sloped more gently back to the railroad 
bed. 

Into this side hill the men dug cellars or "dug-outs," opening to the rear, 
and over these excavations pitched their shelter terns; and so long as they re- 
mained in their "dug-outs" they were quite safe. A guard was kept along the 
breastwork, and convenient ditches or "covered ways" led from the trenches 
back to the quarters. In these "dug-outs" — muddy in rainy weather, and dirty 
at all times — with no means of bathing or washing clothing, and a scant sup- 
ply of proper water for drinking, toilet and cooking purposes, the regiment 
lived from the 24th of June to the night of the 25th of July, 1864, when it was 
once more withdrawn from the front line. 

At daylight of the 26th of July the brigade, now in command of Colonel Hum- 
phrey, Second Michigan, moved to the rear and camped in the open field, which 
was a part of the Shand Place, back of the belt of woods, and not far from the 
place where the Sharpshooters made their charge on June 17. 

Supposing that we were to rest here for some time, a regular camp was made, 
in an open field, almost grassless and without shade. But at noon of July 27, 
the regiment received orders to be ready to move, and at 2 o'clock p. m. we 
marched two and one-half miles to the left and rear and took post near the 
Norfolk Railroad, in the direction of Wells' Station, on the headwaters of 
Blackwater Creek. Here we remained on outpost duty as support to the cav- 
alry, guarding the herds and trains and protecting the rear of our lines, until the 
night of the 29th of July, when, at 6 o'clock in the evening, just as we were 
anticipating a night of quiet and rest, orders came for us to break camp and 



I3 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



march, and at 9 o'clock we were on our way back to the front, to take part in 
the bloody assault of July 30, known in history as the "Battle of the Crater." 

We marched back by the Norfolk stage road, and bivouacked on the plain, 
about midway between the "Avery House," which was Fifth Corps headquarters, 
and General Willcox's headquarters, back of the "belt of woods." It was about 
11 p. m. when we were told to let the men lie down and rest until called. The 
night was warm, the sky was clear, the men spread their blankets on the ground 
and lay down under the open sky, in line just as they had halted. Some slept, 
no doubt, but many did not. Troops were moving all about us, and artillery 
was rumbling along past, going into positions, before day should dawn and dis- 
close their presence. About midnight the company cooks were sent to the 
rear to make coffee for the men, and have it ready to serve before daylight. 
Details of men were made to report to division headquarters with axes, picks 
and shovels, to act as pioneers. 

As soon as the first blush of daylight began to show in the east, the men were 
roused, and silently fell into ranks to move to the front. 

The line in front of Fort Morton, where our brigade had fought on the eve- 
ning of the 18th of June, was pushed up nearer to the rebel line than at any 
other point, being at one period only 125 yards from that line ; and this advanced 
part of our line was commonly called by our men "the horseshoe." Directly 
in front of the "horseshoe" and opposite to Fort Morton, upon a swell of ground 
rising some thirty-five or forty feet above Taylor's Creek, was a Confederate 
fort, mounting four pieces of artillery, occupied by Pegram's battery, supported 
by two battalions of South Carolina infantry. This fort or battery formed a 
salient in the Confederate line, known as "Elliott's Salient," pushed forward be- 
yond the general trend of their line, and we who had occupied the "horseshoe" 
during the month of July, were well aware that a tunnel or mine had been run 
from the bank of Taylor's Creek, inside our line, under this fort. The work- 
was commenced soon after we occupied that position, and had been carried on 
mainly by the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, commanded by Colonel Pleasants. 
They were a regiment of miners from the anthracite coal region. 

It had become common for the men of our command to speak of "Elliott's 
Salient" as "the mined fort." The length of the tunnel was about 500 feet, with 
two lateral chambers at the extremity, extending laterally about 75 feet, and the 
whole charged with about 8,000 pounds of gunpowder in eight magazines, ex- 
tending north and south under the fort. 

When the regiment reached the bivouac on the plain on the night of the 
29th, the commanding officer, Colonel Cutcheon, who had resumed command, 
having reported from hospital July 7, had been informed by General Willcox that 
the mine was to be sprung at daybreak; that then the Ninth Corps was to make 
the assault, and that our brigade was to form a part in the storming column. 

It was about 3 o'clock a. m., July 30, when the men were roused; coffee was 
served, the details for special service sent off, knapsacks were piled and left 
under guard, and at a little before 4 o'clock the head of our brigade column, 
following Hartranft's First Brigade, entered the covered way between Roemer's 
Battery and Fort Morton. The other two white divisions, Ledlie's and Pot- 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 139 

ter's, had already preceded us, and were forming for the assault in the narrow 
strip of meadow which bordered Taylor's Creek. The ziz-zag covered way was 
gorged with troops, and it was quite impossible for us to advance until they 
were out of the way. 

Ledlie's (First) division was formed to the left, and Potter's (Second) to 
the right of the axis of the mined fort. 

All the troops of the Ninth Corps had been relieved in the front line by the 
Eighteenth Corps, so as to leave our entire corps free to make the assault. 

Ferrero's (colored) division was massed in reserve in the belt of the woods, 
back of Fort Morton, ready to be brought forward as soon as the way was 
clear. Such was the disposition of the troops at 4 o'clock, the hour when the 
mine was to have been sprung. 

The dawn was already increasing and the slight mist of the night was rapidly 
disappearing, so that we could make out the enemy's works, when the moment 
came for the explosion. But we waited in vain, no explosion came. Then fol- 
lowed nearly an hour of the most intense strain while we waited. 

The fuse had been lighted at the proper time, but had gone out inside the 
tunnel, at a point where it had been spliced. 

After waiting long enough to make sure that the fuse had failed. Colonel 
Pleasants, who had charge of the mine, called for volunteers to enter the tunnel 
and relight the fuse. At about half-past fcur two men of the Forty-eighth 
Pennsylvania entered the tunnel and relighted the fuse. 

The sun was about rising above the horizon, and some of the garrison of the 
mined fort and along the rebel works could be seen moving about, while their 
bugles began to sound the reveille. 

The morning was cloudless, and a deep and ominous stillness reigned every- 
where, yet within half a mile of the mined fort were not less than 45,000 men 
ready to spring forward in a moment and move to the assault. It was just 
4 :45 a. m. when the explosion came, and our brigade still lay in the covered way, 
filling it from Taylor's Creek back to Roemer's battery. The Twentieth Michi- 
gan was the third regiment in the column. 

The regiments were all very small, averaging probably less than 250 men each, 
so that we were not far back from the head of the column, and a large part of 
the regiment had a perfect view of the explosion, which was hardly more than 
200 yards from the head of the regiment. First there came a deep shock and 
tremor of the earth and a jar like an earthquake; then a heaving and lifting of 
the fort and of the hill on which it stood ; then a monstrous tongue of flame 
shot fully two hundred feet into the air, followed by a vast volume of white 
smoke, resembling the discharge of an enormous cannon; then a great spout or 
fountain of red earth rose to a great height, mingled with men and guns, timbers 
and planks, and every kind of debris, all ascending, spreading, whirling, 
scattering and falling with great concussions to the earth once more. It was a 
grand and terrible spectacle, such as none of us had ever seen before or will 
ever see again. More than 250 of the garrison were involved in the destruction. 
Then a vast cloud of dust and smoke settled over the hill and hid it from view. 
Scarcely had the great fountain of earth settled back to the ground, when our 



1 4 o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



batteries opened from a hundred guns upon all points of the rebel line from 
which an artillery fire might be expected. 

The entire Confederate line seemed at first to be stunned and to awaken 
slowly to the situation. The most of Lee's army was absent on the north side 
of the James River. Only Hokes', Bushrod Johnson's and Mahone's divisions 
were holding the lines south of Petersburg. Hoke's division was on the rebel 
left, Johnson held as far south as the Jerusalem plank road, and Mahone ex- 
tended from that point to the river above the town. 

Before the dust and smoke of the explosion had drifted away, Ledlie's (First) 
division climbed out over our breastworks and advanced up the slope in column, 
to the breach made by the mine. 

The "Crater" formed by the explosion (from which the battle takes its 
name), was about 120 feet long, about 60 feet wide and from 15 to 30 feet deep, 
with side walls as steep as the earth could lie. This pit or "Crater" was sur- 
rounded by immense and irregular piles and masses of red clay, which had been 
lifted out of the pit by the explosion and had fallen for many yards around. 
In some cases immense blocks of clay, of many cubic yards in size, encum- 
bered the ground and gave evidence of the titanic force which had lifted them 
from the solid earth. 

Beyond the Crater and to the right and left, the ground was cut up by bomb- 
proofs, traverses, ditches, covered ways and excavations of all sorts, sizes and 
directions, until it had become a veritable labyrinth, over which it was literally 
and physically impossible to march troops or to retain formation. We saw 
Ledlie's troops go forward. They went by flank, in column of fours. They 
were good troops of proved valor, but their division commander, who had only 
recently come to the Ninth Corps, did not go 110* with them. 

There were six regiments from Massachusetts, two from New York, two 
from Pennsylvania and one from Maryland. In climbing out of the breastworks 
and getting through the abatis they were somewhat disordered, and in running 
up the slope to the rebel works, as always happens in such cases, the lines opened 
out and organizations became more or less mingled. 

These eleven small regiments, in three small brigades, numbering perhaps 
about 3.000 men. poured directly into the Crater and its immediate surround- 
ings and became inextricably mingled and confused from the very start. Going 
up in that way. under fire, into such a place, it was inevitable. General Ledlie 
and his staff, or most of them, remained inside our breastworks. 

The brigade and regimental commanders sought in vain to reform their troops 
and to lead them toward the crest. 500 yards beyond the Crater. It was impos- 
sible to form them where they were, and they could only be moved forward to 
the open field beyond, as individuals, and not as organizations. But, at one time, 
between 8 and 9 o'clock, a few hundred of them were got into line upon the 
open slope beyond, but only to be driven back by the withering fire, which by 
this time had been concentrated by the enemy. 

At about 5 :30 a. m., Potter's gallant Second Division, of fourteen regiments, 
all but three from New England, went over our works at the right of the Crater 
and, sweeping forward up the slope, seized the Confederate line for a distance of 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 141 

two hundred or two hundred and fifty yards on the right (north ) of the mined fort, 
as far as a ravine which came down through the Confederate line at that point. 
On a small rise of ground to the right of this ravine was Wright's rehel bat- 
tery of four guns, which enfiladed our line, doing fearful execution. But Potter 
held on and extended to the right, until he had crossed the ravine. One of 
Potter's regiments, the Second New York, advanced on the right of the ravine 
id within a few yards of Wright's battery, but were so enfiladed by General 
Ransom's Confederate brigade, further to our right, that it was impossible for 
them to carry the position or hold on where they were. 

On some parts of this line the rebels occupied one side of the breastwork, 
while our men held the other. 

By 6 o'clock the Confederates had recovered from their surprise and paralysis 
and began to concentrate a heavy and destructive fire, of both musketry and 
artillery upon the breach. 

When Ledlie's division advanced, Willcox's moved up and took its place imme- 
diately in rear of our breastworks. This was soon after 5 o'clock and here our 
brigade lay until near 8 o'clock, in column of regiments, closed in mass. 

The Second Brigade, Colonel William Humphrey, commanding, consisted of 
the First Michigan Sharpshooters, Second Michigan Infantry, Twentieth Michi- 
gan, Forty-sixth New York, Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Sixtieth Ohio and the Twen- 
ty-fourth New York Cavalry (dismounted). The brigade was divided into two 
wings or columns; the right wing consisted of the three Michigan regiments, 
in the order named. This wing was to attack the breastwork immediately on 
the left of the mined fort; the left wing consisted of the other four regiments, 
in two lines — the Forty-sixth New York and the Fiftieth Pennsylvania in the 
first line and the Sixtieth Ohio and the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry in the 
second line. These were to go over our breastwork at the left of the "horse- 
shoe" and, wheeling to the left, assault and carry the two-gun battery on the 
Suffolk (or Baxter) road, and seize the rest of the rebel line from that road up to 
the point reached by the right wing. 

Hartranft's brigade had charged soon after the advance of Ledlie's division, 
but receiving a severe fire from the "Suffolk Road Battery," it had obliqued to 
the right in advancing and, instead of taking the line to the left of the mined 
fort, as intended, it only increased the gorge and confusion in and around the 
Crater. There never was a more gallant soldier than General John F. Har- 
tranft, and there were no braver men than he commanded. Their failure to 
take the line was not for the want of a good commander, or of gallantry on the 
part of the men. It was the consecpience of the manner in which the assault was 
directed piecemeal against the labyrinth of the Crater and its surroundings, 
instead of pushing a heavy column against and over the comparatively open line 
between the Crater and the Baxter road, to the crest. 

Now followed a long delay while efforts were being made to get the five brig- 
ades already up to reform beyond the Crater and charge to the crest of the 
hill, 500 yards beyond, but without success. 

About 7 130 Ferrero's division of colored troops was brought forward, with 
orders to form beyond the Crater and charge to the crest. Our brigade was still 



I42 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



lying in column of regiments behind the breastworks, awaiting orders to ad- 
vance, when the black division poured past us in columns of fours. They were 
in good order, well closed up, and seemed full of enthusiasm. 

They went up on the run, under a pretty sharp fire, stringing out somewhat as 
they advanced. Instead of directing this column to the left of the Crater, they, 
too, were led directly into the mined fort, and passed out upon our right be- 
yond. 

They were the first considerable x body of troops to pass beyond the surround- 
ings of the pit, and form in order of attack beyond. 

The time had now come for our brigade, as all the rest of the corps had already 
advanced. It was now between 8 and 8 -.30 o'clock. As soon as the last regiment 
of the colored division had passed out, the order came, "Forward, Second Bri- 
gade !" The three Michigan regiments on the right moved out promptly, the 
Sharpshooters on the right, the Second in the center and the Twentieth on the 
left. The guide was right, and our regiment was ordered to keep closed to the 
right on the Second. 

No sooner had the Second Regiment cleared the breastworks than the order 
was given, "Forward, Twentieth Michigan!" Colonel Cutcheon was in com- 
mand, with Major Grant, who had received his commission only a few days be- 
fore, second in command. The regiment was reduced by casualities to about 
125 men. Every man was in his place, and instantly the regiment responded to 
the command, and climbed out of the breastworks, (it was as high as a man's 
head) and, as they were struggling through the abatis, a blast of canister from 
the Suffolk road battery swept through the line, leaving several of the men 
dead or dying upon the field, but the rest rushed forward without faltering, 
through a storm of bullets that hissed around them, until, after a hard run of 
about 200 yards they drew themselves upon the rebel breastworks, about 50 or 
75 yards to the left of the mined fort. Meanwhile the other regiments had 
obliqued to the right, where the contour of the ground was more favorable, and 
disappeared from our sight behind and beyond the piles of earth thrown up 
from the crater. Our regiment numbered only 115 guns in line when it started, 
and perhaps 100 reached the rebel works. We were the extreme left regiment 
that did so that day. The regiment captured some 30 or 40 of the enemy 
in the line, including two commissioned officers, all of whom were sent to the 
rear. Right here, be it said, chapters could be written of personal reminiscences 
of that day, but all must be omitted, except such as relate to the regiment 
itself. One of the rebel officers was mortally wounded just outside his breast- 
works, hit by a bullet from his own side. 

We lay here partly within and partly outside the breastworks for some time- 
it is impossible to estimate the time— perhaps half an hour. About this time the 
officers of the colored division had succeeded in forming a good part of them be- 
yond the Crater, and started to advance to the crest, when a brigade of Con- 
federate troops sprang up from a shallow ravine which extended in an oblique 
direction across our right front of the mined fort. This was Mahone's old brig- 
ade of Virginia regiments, and they fell upon the right flank of the colored 
troops with extreme fury and energy. It is probable that the fact that for the 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 143 

first time they confronted former slaves in arms added to the ferocity of the 
attack. A large proportion of the white officers of the colored division fell at 
the first onset, leaving the negroes without leaders, and the division quickly gave 
back. 

Some regiments of Griffin's brigade of Potter's division had formed, or were 
forming, beyond the line of the rebel works, and these were swept back with 
the rest. The stampede, once begun, was not arrested at the Crater, at least 
only in part, but continued back to our own lines, carrying along hundreds upon 
hundreds, both black and white. 

It was during this stampede that General Hartranft, the ranking officer of the 
Ninth Corps present at the Crater, ordered the Twentieth to move up to the 
left of the fort to assist in checking the panic ; and in obedience to this order, 
the regiment, or what remained of it, passed along the trench and into the left 
part of the fort, which portion of it was not wholly destroyed, where they 
assisted as best they could in stopping the stampede. 

Here they remained through the rest of that horrible and bloody day, until 
about 2 o'clock p. m., when most of them, pursuant to orders, withdrew to our 
own lines, from which we had advanced in the morning with high hopes of 
success. 

The Twentieth Regiment participated with the other troops in repulsing sev- 
eral charges made in attempts to recover the Crater, but it was as individuals 
rather than as an organized regiment. 

By noon the jCrater and its surroundings had become a veritable "slaughter 
pen," packed as it was with the disorganized remnants of four divisions. 

At about 12 .30 p. m., as stated by General Hartranft in his official report, or- 
ders came into the Crater from General Burnside that the troops should with- 
draw to our own line, but that the officers present with the troops were to use 
their best judgment as to the time and manner of withdrawing. 

This order was delivered to General Hartranft, who called together a few of 
the officers near him, including General Griffin, Colonel Cutcheon and Major 
Grant, to confer in regard to the execution of the order. It was decided to hold 
on until dark if practicable, in order to avoid the heavy loss of life which must 
result from withdrawing by daylight, and some steps were taken to cut a covered 
way or ditch back to a depression, through which our line might be safely 
reached. But we were without tools or sandbags, and our ammunition was ex- 
hausted. 

The day had been intensely hot, and the men had been exposed in the broil- 
ing sun without food or drink since the night before. Many were completely 
overcome and used up. 

Subsequent to the consultation mentioned, some time between 1 and 2 o'clock, 
at the suggestion of General Hartranft, Colonel Cutcheon volunteered to run the 
gauntlet to our works, to secure the much needed ammunition, tools and sand 
bags. Within our line he could find neither brigade nor division commander 
anywhere nearer than Fort Morton, and before anything effective could be ac- 
complished — almost immediatly in fact — the final charge was made upon the 
Crater, and General Hartranft gave the order to withdraw, which was done in 



144 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



much haste and disorder. At the same time all those belonging to other divisions, 
on the right and left and around the Crater, who could do so, retreated to our 
lines. So ended the "Battle of the Crater." 

Of the Twentieth Michigan, six were killed, twenty-seven wounded and nine- 
teen enlisted men and one officer missing — total fifty-three, almost fifty per cent 
of the number who started on the charge. Among the missing— who remained 
in the Crater and were taken prisoners — were Lieutenant Barnard and the color 
guard. Color Sergeant Alexander Bush, who had carried the national colors 
throughout the campaign with the greatest gallantry, did not get the order to 
withdraw, and with the rest of the guard was surrounded and captured. His 
well-earned commission as a lieutenant came only a few days afterward, but 
it was several months before he was able to accept it and muster upon it. The 
colors we never saw again until many years after the close of the war, when they 
were turned over to the state by the United States, having been recaptured with 
the city of Richmond, April, 1865. 

The story of the part taken by the other four regiments of the brigade can be 
told in a few words in the language of Colonel Humphrey, commanding the 
brigade, in his official report, as follows : 

"At 8 o'clock the three regiments on the right of the line charged across the 
field as directed, taking the pits in their front, and the men by whom they were 
occupied. After clearing our pits the Forty-sixth New York hesitated, lost con- 
nection with the regiment on its right, broke and crowded through and carried 
with it the regiment on its left (the Fiftieth Pennsylvania) to the road (the 
Baxter road). These regiments were afterwards put in the pits, forming our 
front line, where they remain to this time (August 4, 1864). 

"This charge, so far as the instructions were carried out, was a success, and 
had it not been for the causeless breaking Df the Forty-sixth New York, there 
is no doubt but that the whole line would have been carried, and the troops occu- 
pying it captured, and the achievement of the object for which we set out in 
the morning, rendered more than probable. The regiments that reached the ene- 
my's works helped hold those works against three assaults of the enemy, and 
were among the last to obey the order to retire at 2:30 p. m." 

Of this same matter, General O. B. Willcox, in his official report, under date 
of October 29, 1864, says: "The Second, Twentieth and First Michigan Regi- 
ments went in line and, with no great loss, carried the pits the length of their 
line, capturing some forty prisoners ; but the Forty-sixth New York broke, and in 
their disgraceful retreat, threw two remaining regiments of the Second Brigade 
into temporary disorder, and separated them from the line of battle." 

Such is the plain story of the "battle of the Crater." With the most brilliant 
promise of a great success when the explosion took place, it proved the most 
disastrous affair of the whole war, and the most depressing upon the army and 
the country. It was especially most unfortunate for the reputation and morale 
of the Ninth Army Corps. 

General Meade asked for a court of inquiry, which was ordered, and met at 
headquarters of the Second Corps on August 6 and sat until September 9. The 
court was composed of General W. S. Hancock, General R. B. Ayres and Gen- 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG I45 



eral Nelson A. Miles— all named by General Meade, and they found, as might 
have been anticipated, almost everybody connected with the Ninth Corps at 
fault. On their report General Burnside was relieved of command, and did not 
again return to active service in the field. General Ledlie was also promptly re- 
lieved and disappeared utterly from our horizon. It was an unfortunate day 
when he came to us. 

Probably no event of the entire war gave rise to deeper feeling or longer or 
more acrimonious discussion, and that discussion and feeling have not yet entirely 
ceased, forty years afterward. 

It is pertinent to this history and due to truth to say that the conduct of the 
Twentieth Michigan on that day was entirely satisfactory to the brigade and 
division commanders; and the regimental commander has always thought that 
the regiment— what there was of it— never behaved more worthily than on this 
occasion. For his services at this time and in the other actions around Peters- 
burg, Colonel Cutcheon received the brevet of brigadier general, which was quite 
as much a tribute to the regiment as to the commander. 

The attack did not fail from want of courage or sacrifice on the part of the 
men of the corps. The men were brave, and there was a superabundance of 
sacrifice. 

These were the same men who, at Knoxville, in November, 1863, had repulsed 
Longstreet's eight brigades, in their assault on Fort Sanders. They were also 
the identical troops who, in March, 1865, held the lines on the right of Peters- 
burg against General Gordon's ten thousand men, and who recaptured Fort 
Stedman, with more than 2,000 prisoners. They were also the same brigades that 
on the morning of April 2, 1865, fought with unsurpassed courage and dash at 
Fort Sedgwick on the Jerusalem plank road, only half a mile to the left of the 
Crater, capturing Fort Mahone and breaking the enemy's main line and holding 
it, thus rendering Petersburg untenable. 

The fault was not with the bravery of the troops. The corps lost in killed, 50 
officers and 423 men; wounded, 124 officers and 1,522 enlisted men; missing,' 79 
officers and 1,277 enlisted men; making a total loss to our corps of 3,475. 

These were the figures immediately after the battle. The corrected figures 
increased the number of killed and wounded and reduced the number of the miss- 
ing. 

General A. A. Humphreys, who was General Meade's chief of staff at the time, 
puts the loss of the corps at 3,500. General Meade reported it much larger.' 
It was certainly all too large. 

The loss of the colors was a great grief to the regiment. Had the color guard 
received the order to withdraw it might have done so, and this loss would have 
been avoided. The regiment remained in the "horseshoe" until the night of 
August 1, when it was withdrawn to the plain east of the belt of woods, near 
the head of Harrison Creek, and not far from General Willcox's headquarters. 
10 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG— Continued. 

WELDON RAILROAD — REAM'S STATION. 

August I, 1864. September 29, 1864. 

So large a space has been given to the story of the "battle of the Crater," not 
because the part taken by the Twentieth Michigan was especially important or 
notable, but because the affair itself was the most peculiar and the most dis- 
cussed of any in which the regiment participated. In the hope that a plain state- 
ment by an eye witness and a participant may have some historic value in mak- 
ing clear the real situation and the causes of the failure, that story has been re- 
told. 

In a few words, it was the labyrinth of the Crater and its surroundings, as 
described, in the last chapter, that was primarily and fundamentally responsible 
for the failure of the assault. But this might have been avoided by sending the 
troops in two columns of attack, of two divisions each, against the works on the 
right and left of the Crater— Potter, supported by Ledlie on the right and Will- 
cox, supported by Ferrero on the left— the latter to carry the two-gun battery 
on the Baxter road, and then advance up along that road to the crest, and the 
former to rush Wright's battery, on the right of the ravine, and then push for 
the high ridge in the direction of Cemetery Hill. With the aid of our abundant 
artillery to keep down the Confederate artillery fire on the right and left, the 
crest ought to have been ours within forty minutes after the explosion. The plan 
of dragging brigade after brigade through the Crater itself was fatally faulty, 
both in conception and in execution. 

The remnant of our regiment remained in the breastworks directly opposite the 
Crater until midnight of August 1. The whole day of July 31 was consumed in 
negotiations for a cessation of firing to enable us to bury the dead and succor the 
wounded, who still lay between the lines. Hundreds of the dead and dying 
lay in plain view, but it was impossible to reach them, as the entire ground was 
swept by the fire from the rebel breastworks. 

During the night of the 30th many of the less seriously wounded had been able 
to crawl into our lines, and some of the men in our works, at the risk of their 
own lives, had crept up the slope and assisted their wounded comrades off the 
field. On the morning of the 31st the sight was a most horrible and painful 
one. Around the Crater and between the lines the ground was thickly strewn 
with the bodies of the dead, while moans and cries for "water," indicated that 
the dying were mingled with the dead. The weather was intensely hot and 
the stench of the battlefield soon became most sickening. 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 147 



Early in the morning on the 31st, Major P. M. Lydig of General Burnside's 
staff, appeared upon the line of our brigade with a white flag, which he waved 
from the top of our breastwork. Before long a response was made from the 
Crater, and Major Lydig, accompanied by Colonel Cutcheon, -who had gone on 
duty as division officer of the day at midnight of the 30th, advanced across the 
field and met a Confederate officer, midway between the lines. Negotiations con- 
tinued throughout the day, but it was not until well into the night of the 31st, 
that the truce was finally agreed upon for the burial of the dead, August I. 

Meanwhile many of the wounded had died, but relief was administered to many 
who still survived. On the next day about 400 of our dead were buried upon the 
field, midway between the lines. 

The regiment remained encamped east of the belt of woods and west of Har- 
rison Creek from the 1st to the 14th of August. During this time muster and 
pay rolls were made out, and on the 13th the men were paid off. As this was 
the first rest since the beginning of the campaign, records were brought down, 
reports of operations written and recommendations for promotions to fill vacan- 
cies were made, and quite a number of commissions received for those previ- 
ously recommended. 

On August 3, as appears from the official report, the regiment was able to 
muster only 81 enlisted men. When this number had increased to 100 by the 
return of sick and wounded from the hospital and from special detail, Colonel 
Cutcheon divided the regiment into three provisional companies, and assigned 
officers accordingly. 

On August 7, Major C. B. Grant was detailed on recruiting service in Michi- 
gan, and immediately proceeded to Michigan on that duty, and did not again re- 
turn to the command until November 18. August 5 was observed throughout the 
army and the country as a day of fasting and prayer, and solemn and fitting ser- 
vices were conducted in the regiment. 

On the evening of August 14 the regiment once more moved back into the 
"trenches on the left of the "horseshoe." 

On August 13 General Burnside received a formal leave of absence from 
General Grant and on his departure, he turned the command of the corps over 
to Brigadier General O. B. Willcox, the senior division commander present. 
But on the next day, August 14, General Meade assigned Major John G. Parke, 
who had been Burnside's chief of staff, to the command of the corps, and he 
continued its commander until the close of hostilities, and the breaking up of 
the corps. General Burnside did not again return to the army. His star had 
gone down in the clouds that overhung the disaster of the Crater, and that closed 
his military career. 

General Burnside entered the service at the very beginning of the war as 
colonel of the First Rhode Island Regiment. He commanded a brigade in the 
battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861, and was soon after made a brigadier general. 
In the winter of 1861-62 he organized the expedition to the coast of North Caro- 
lina and gained a brilliant success at Roanoke Island and at Newberne. 

This was the beginning of the Ninth Army Corps, and their badge, displaying 
a crossed anchor and cannon, was derived from the North Carolina expedition. 



i 4 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

On the failure of McClellan's peninsular campaign of 1862, General Burn- 
side, with the greater part of his troops, was brought to Virginia in time for 
one division under General Reno to take part in the Second Bull Run battle, 
August 29 and 30, 1862. The Ninth Corps was then organized as such, and 
consolidated with the army of the Potomac, and was under the command 
of General Burnside in the subsequent battles of South Mountain and 
Antietam, where it rendered most gallant and valuable service. On November 
7, 1862, against his own desire, General Burnside was ordered by the president 
to take command of the Army of the Potomac. The disaster at Fredericksburg 
followed, and General Burnside, at his own request, was relieved of the com- 
mand. 

Then followed his assignment to the Department of the Ohio, the organization 
of the Army of the Ohio for the relief of East Tennessee, the Morgan raid, and 
the capture of his force, the movement to Knoxville, the redemption of East 
Tennessee, the successful defense of Knoxville and his assignment to reorganize 
the Ninth Army Corps for the campaign of 1864. 

During that campaign the corps rendered very valuable and distinguished ser- 
vice under his command, but it did not enjoy the favor of General Meade, 
due, perhaps, to the fact that for some time it was not attached to the Army of 
the Potomac and was not under his command. The result was a constant friction 
between the two generals. General Burnside being the senior of the two, as here- 
tofore stated, he was relieved of the command, and remained inactive until April 
15, 1865, when he resigned. General Burnside was much esteemed and be- 
loved by his old corps, and in spite of the two disasters associated with his 
name, his old soldiers kept their faith in him, and believed that the fault lay 
with others, who failed to carry out his plans, rather than with him. 

After the close of the war he became governor of the state of Rhode Island 
for several terms, and then was elected to the senate of the United States, of 
which he remained a member until the time of his death. 

It may be that there never will be a consensus of opinion as to General Burn- 
side's place as a soldier, but there can never be any question as to his unfalter- 
ing patriotism and his entire devotion to duty. 

On our return to the trenches on the night of August 14, the old order of 
things was resumed — the daily firings, the occasional artillery duels, the nightly 
alarms, a man killed now and then, and some one hit almost every day. 

So it went on until the night of the 18th, when we were once more withdrawn 
from the trenches, and our entire division assembled on the plain not far from 
the "Avery House." The division had hardly been together before, except in 
action and under fire, since the day it crossed the James. 

We lay quietly near the Avery House, until the morning of the 19th, and then 
commenced the movement toward the left, to reinforce General G. K. Warren 
and the Fifth Corps, on the Weldon Railroad, where we had heard the sounds 
of battle throughout the 18th. 

Taking the main road leading southwest to Globe (or Yellow) Tavern, keep- 
ing mostly covered by the dense woods, with the flanks well protected by flank- 
ing skirmishers, we marched slowly and cautiously, and at about noon arrived 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 149 

in the open field north and east of the "Globe Tavern," on the Weldon Railroad, 
known as the "Dunlap farm." The division had just formed columns of brig- 
ades, by battalion front, the men were making coffee, and the trains and strag- 
glers were just coming up, when suddenly from the woods on the right and front, 
came the sharp rattle and crash of musketry. On the previous day General War- 
ren had gained possession of the railroad, ?nd had to some extent entrenched 
himself thereon. General Grant was seeking to cut off, one by one, General 
Lee's lines of supply. On the 18th, General Warren had been able, with the 
Fifth Corps, to maintain his hold on the railroad, but he had called for re- 
inforcements, and the Ninth Corps, or a part of it, had been sent to him. 

At the first alarm our divisions fell in and formed line of battle, the First, 
now under the temporary command of General Julius White, formerly of the 
Twenty-third Army Corps, facing the firing, nearly due north, and ours, the 
Third, under Willcox, facing nearly west toward the woods on the north side 
of the railroad, toward Petersburg. 

Potter's Second Division was not engaged on this day, being employed in mak- 
ing connection between the troops on the Weldon Railroad and our former posi- 
tion, near the Jerusalem plank road. 

The First Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General J. F. Hartranft, formed 
on the right, supporting White, and our (Second) Brigade, under Colonel Wil- 
liam Humphrey, was on the left, and faced more to the west, up the line of the 
railroad. 

The First Brigade advanced into the thick woods on our right, where they 
immediately became hotly engaged with the enemy, the Eighth Michigan espe- 
cially suffering severely, the commanding officer, Major Belcher, being killed, 
and several other officers disabled. Many of the Eighth fell back to our-line and 
formed on the right of the Twentieth, until their own brigade withdrew from the 
woods. After considerable manoeuvering in support of the First Brigade, our 
(Humphrey's) brigade was marched 500 or 600 yards to the left, toward the 
railroad, where we were formed in two lines, and ordered to charge into the 
woods and retake the pits of General Crawford's division of the Fifth Corps, 
from which a part of that division had been driven earlier in the afternoon, 
thus making a wide gap in our line. After the battle of the 18th, General E. S. 
Bragg's brigade of Cutler's division, Fifth Corps, had been sent to the right of 
Crawford's division to feel for and make connection with the left of the picket 
line of Potter's division of the Ninth Corps, somewhere south of the Jerusalem 
plank road. The woods were dense, the wood-roads confusing, and Bragg's line 
extremely thin, in fact hardly a good picket line. Against this, General Lee 
sent General William Mahone— a lifelong resident of Petersburg and familiar 
with these woods and every road and track through them— and Mahone marching 
with his old Virginia brigade, now under Colonel Wisiger, and Clingman's and 
Colquitt's brigades, easily broke through Bragg's line, with very little opposition, 
and turning to the right, following roads familiar to him, succeeded in getting 
in the rear of, and cutting out, most of Bragg's brigade and the right brigade of 
Crawford's division, commanded by Colonel Peter Lyle, Ninetieth Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, and Mahone, then changing to the right, swept the larger part of the 



150 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

brigade, as prisoners, into the Confederate lines. Half a dozen field officers, 
33 line officers and 721 of the rank and file of Lyle's brigade were thus cap- 
tured. It was to retake the line so lost that our brigade was now ordered to 
charge. The Twentieth was in the second line. It was now getting near eve- 
ning, and we moved cautiously into the woods, having no connections on either 
flank, until within charging distance of the pits occupied by the enemy ; then we 
charged on the double quick with a wild yell and took the pits with a dash, 
capturing a stand of colors and about 100 prisoners. 

Along the line of the rifle pits so retaken we found abundant evidence that the 
attack on Lyle's brigade had been a complete surprise. About 300 stands of 
small arms were gathered up from the ground, and in one place were many guns 
standing in stacks, with the accoutrements hanging upon them. 

There were also a number of shelter tents standing nearby, as if the men had 
taken refuge in them from the showers which occurred at about the time of the 
capture. 

The loss of the regiment in this affair was fortunately very light. The line 
which we took was a shallow pit in a swampy wood and partially filled 
with water. Here we spent the night, wet and muddy, while much of the time 
the warm rain poured down on us in torrents. During the evening some part 
of the Fifth Corps came up on our right and left, and the line was reestablished. 
Daylight, on the morning of the 20th, was most welcome, and advancing our 
pickets we found that the enemy had retired from the woods and were not in 
sight in the open fields beyond. 

At about 10 o'clock a. m., the brigade was withdrawn from the line in the 
woods and stationed in the open fields in the direction of "Yellow Tavern," but 
almost immediately the Twentieth was sent back again to the pits to act as a 
grand picket on that part of the line. The regiment was deployed in a thin 
line, so as to occupy the whole space previously occupied by the brigade, and 
here we remained until about 8 o'clock in the morning pi the 21st, when we were 
relieved by the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, and moved out of the 
woods and back into the fields near the Yellow House. Here we remained until 
past noon, when the enemy attacked in heavy force on both sides of the rail- 
road, but most heavily on the southwest side. 

Mahone's division attacked along the line, where we had been posted, and they 
were permitted to come on until they had advanced through the slashing and 
into the clearing, when several batteries of artillery opened upon them at short 
range with a destructive fire, and they were quickly repulsed and driven back into 
the woods. 

During this engagement our regiment was moved back to the line of artillery 
redoubts, and there threw up heavy breastworks. 

On this day we were spectators rather than participants of the fighting, and our 
loss was nominal only, being one officer and five men wounded in the two 
days' operations. The total loss in the seven regiments of the brigade was 131, 
of whom 6 were "missing," being captured from the Sixtieth Ohio, on the picket 
line. 

On the 22d August our brigade advanced on the right of the railroad, in a 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 151 

reconnaissance in force, through the woods and across the open fields beyond, 
a distance in all of about three-quarters of a mile, to the "Johnston House," in 
advance of any of the fighting of the past three days. We then supposed that 
a new line was to be established here, to be connected with the old line near 
Jerusalem plank road. But just as we were "making ourselves comfortable" for 
the night, we were ordered to withdraw, which we did in a heavy downpour of 
rain. 

On August 24th we again moved, to a point to the right and front of the 
"Aiken House" — about a mile northeast of the "Yellow Tavern" — and commenced 
constructing a heavy fortified line near the site of Fort Howard. 

Here we were engaged in making a regular camp, when at noon of August 25th 
(next day) orders came to proceed with our division with all speed to the 
assistance of General Hancock, then heavily engaged with the enemy at Ream's 
Station. 

General Willcox desired to go directly down to the railroad, which would have 
been a distance of only about five and a half miles; but we were ordered to 
follow the Jerusalem plank road to a point known as "Shay's Tavern," where 
a road turned off at right angles to Ream's Station. The distance by this 
roundabout way was about twelve miles. The division was marched very rap- 
idly to the plank road, near Fort Stevenson, and thence down that road, passing 
a part of Mott's Division of the Second Corps at "Shay's Tavern," and then 
turned off toward Ream's station. While still some two or three miles from 
the field where the battle was raging, we began to meet great numbers of 
stragglers and deserters streaming to the rear in a continuous procession. It 
was now between 5 and 6 p. m. At this point General Willcox received an 
order from General Hancock to deploy a part of his troops and arrest the strag- 
glers and organize them with his regiments, and form a line to cover the with- 
drawal of the Second Corps. General Willcox now ordered the Twentieth Michi- 
gan to be deployed, supported by the rest of the brigade. While we were still 
engaged in this work another order came from General Hancock to General Will- 
cox to hurry forward with all speed to the battlefield. We were now near 
enough to hear not only the flight of the shells, but also the rattle of the mus- 
ketry and even the shouts and yells of the combatants. In obedience to the 
orders we went forward, nearly at the double quick. 

It was getting dark, and we were still some way from the fighting, when we 
met the head of Hancock's column, coming off the field. The fight had proved 
disastrous to him. His lines had been broken, his breastworks taken, nine of his 
guns captured, with a loss of 610 killed and wounded and 2,150 captured, to- 
gether with 12 stands of colors and upwards of 3,000 stands of small arms. 

This was the worst defeat the Second Corps ever suffered. When General 
Hancock met General Willcox, directly at the head of our regiment, which was 
then leading the division, Willcox inquired how the battle had gone. "Licked 
like hell," was Hancock's laconic reply; and such proved to be a true statement 
of the situation. 

Our division covered the withdrawal of the Second Corps, and held the line 
of the road until after midnight, and until the stragglers ceased to come in; 



£52 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

then leaving the rearguard duty to the cavalry under General Gregg, we returned 
along the Jerusalem plank road until we reached the "Williams House," on 
our rear line, and there we lay down and rested until after sunrise, when we 
returned in a leisurely way to the "Aiken House," and once more took posses- 
sion of our camp, which we were destined to occupy until the 29th of Sep- 
tember. 

The battle of Ream's Station was almost as disastrous as, and much more dis- 
graceful than, the battle of the Crater. In the latter engagement no regiment 
refused to obey orders, or to advance when properly led, but at Ream's Station, 
according to General Hancock's own report, regiments sullenly refused to at- 
tempt to retake their works, or even to fire when commanded. He accounts for 
this by the very great losses the corps had suffered in its best officers during the 
previous campaign and the large number of raw recruits and hired substitutes, 
who had been brought into the ranks by means of large bounties and advanced 
pay. These men were not of the same quality as those who had enlisted as 
volunteers during '61 and '62, and no corps had suffered more than the gallant 
Second. Many of these recruits, substitutes and conscripts were rushed to the 
front without drill or discipline, and with the purpose to "flunk" or desert at the 
first chance. It was a bitter and disgraceful ending of a campaign magnificently 
begun at the Wilderness and at the "Bloody Angle" of Spottsylvania. 

During the ensuing month, until September 29, we were engaged in building 
fortifications between the Jerusalem plank road and the "Aiken House," and 
particularly in fortifying a strong "rear line" to protect the left and rear, so that 
we could withdraw a large part of the troops for field operations on the left. 
Our line was well back from the rebel works, and there was little firing during 
the time. 

During the month of September a few recruits arrived from Michigan, who 
gave employment to some of the non-commissioned officers in drilling them 
into shape for soldiers. During this time the army was resting from its long and 
most exhausting campaigns, and the government was making great efforts to fill 
up the decimated ranks. It was the necessity of disciplining this raw material 
that delayed the fall campaign. But toward the end of September the note of 
preparation again sounded, and on September 29 the fall campaign opened. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-POPLAR SPRINGS CHURCH-BOYDTON 
PLANK ROAD-HATCHER'S RUN. 

September 29. 1864. October 31, 1864. 

On September 13, 1864, while we still lay in camp near the Aiken House, a 
mile east from Globe Tavern, the arrangement and organization of the Ninth 

Corps were changed. . 

On September 1 Ledlie's division had been discontinued, the larger brigade 
being assigned to Willcox's division, and what was left of the other brigade, 
to Potter's division. 

On September 13 the numbering of the divisions was changed, so that Will- 
cox's became the First, Potter's the Second and Ferrero's the Third. 

On November 28 six new Pennsylvania regiments joined the corps at Pee- 
ble's farm and were organized into a provisional division and placed under 
the command of Brigadier General Hartranft, who had been promoted since the 
arrival of the troops at Petersburg; and when, on December 15, the colored 
division was assigned to the Army of the James and became a part of the 
Twenty-fifth Army Corps, Hartranft's Provisional Division became the Third 
Division of the corps, and so remained to the close of the war. 

That portion of Ledlie's division transferred to Willcox was consolidated into 
the Third Brigade, First Division, under Colonel Napoleon B. McLaughlin, of 
the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts. It was composed of the following regiments : 

Third Maryland (4 companies). 

Twenty-ninth Massachusetts. 

Fifty-seventh Massachusetts. 

Fifty-ninth Massachusetts. 

Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery. 

One Hundredth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. 

The Thirty-fifth and Thirty-sixth Massachusetts and the One Hundred and 
Seventy-ninth New York, formerly of the First Division, were transferred to the 
Second Division (Potter's). 

This organization of our division remained practically unchanged until the 
close of hostilities. 

The command of the brigade remained in Colonel William Humphrey until 
September 30, when he mustered out, and General J. F. Hartranft was assigned 
to the command until October 8, when it temporarily passed into the hands 



I54 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



of Lieutenant Colonel W. C. Newberry, of the Twenty-fourth New York Cav- 
alry. 

On October 16. by order of General Willcox, Colonel B. M. Cutcheon. Twen- 
tieth Michigan, was assigned to the command of the brigade, which he retained 
until March 6. 1S05. when he was succeeded by Colonel Ralph Ely, Eighth Michi- 
gan, who remained in command until the regiment was mustered out. May 30, 

1865. 
Having noted the changes of organization and of commanders, we now resume 

the thread of the story of the regiment. 

On the night of September 28 orders were received for the command to be in 
readiness to move the next morning with four days' rations and forty rounds 
of cartridges. On the morning of the 29th the command was up long before 
daylight and ready to move as soon as light enough to see. 

After waiting in camp until 4 o'clock p. ir... we moved about two miles in a 
southwesterly direction, to the vicinity of the "Gurley House," near Fort Davi- 
son, where the Second Division was already concentrated. Here we bivouacked 

for the night. 

The Fifth Corps was also massed near the Yellow Tavern, and everything 
indicated an extensive and important movement to the left. 

As afterwards transpired, this movement to the left was in aid of a simul- 
taneous movement, ordered by General Grant, on the north side of the James 
"River. 

During the night of the 28th General Ord, with two divisions of the Eigh- 
teenth Corps and General Bimey. with two divisions of the Tenth Corps, 
crossed the James near Deep Bottom and en the 29th, wheeling to the left, 
advanced directly toward Richmond, assaulting and capturing Fort Harrison 
and the lines right and left. 

It was in aid of this movement that two divisions each of the Fifth and Ninth 
Corps were withdrawn from the lines and held in hand until the morning of 
the 30th. ready to move as the exigencies of the situation might require. 

By 8 o'clock on the morning of the 30th, General Lee had withdrawn sufficient 
troops from his right so that General Grant felt justified in directing General 
Meade to proceed with the movement on the left, the object of which was to 
seize and hold the junction of the roads near Poplar Springs Church and, if 
possible, to advance from there north and west, and seize the Boydton plank road, 
upon which General Lee was hauling a large proportion of his supplies. 

On the morning of the 30th reveille sounded at 3 o'clock. The regiment was 
up in column and ready to march at 6 o'clock ; but as our division was to be pro- 
ceeded by the Fifth Corps and Potter's division of the Ninth, it was between 10 
and 11 o'clock when we crossed the Weldon Railroad south of the Yellow Tav- 
ern and north of Fort Dushane, and took the road leading nearly due westward 
to the junction of the Poplar Springs Church road and the "Squirrel Level road," 
about two miles west of the Yellow Tavern. 

Just as we were leaving the Gurley House we met Colonel William Humphrey, 
who had that morning been mustered out of the service, and was then starting for 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 



City Point on his way to Michigan. The loss of Colonel Humphrey was quite 
unexpected to most of the brigade, and it was with great regret that they took 
leave of this gallant and able officer, who had taken us through the Knoxville 
campaign and most of the Virginia campaign to that time. 

Colonel Humphrey had always shown himself a clear-headed, cool and coura- 
geous officer and he possessed the entire confidence of the brigade. He re- 
turned at once to civil life, but subsequently received the brevet rank of briga 
dier general "for gallant service, both as regimental and brigade commander," 
in accordance with the recommendation of Ceneral Parke, made September 15, 
1864. 

It was a great relief to our disappointment at losing Colonel Humphrey to 
know that so capable and brave an officer as Brigadier General John F. Har- 
tranft, formerly colonel of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, had been assigned to 
the temporary command of our brigade. 

For the best attainable report of the operations of the brigade on September 
30, 1864, and the week following, reference is here made to his report embraced 
in the appendix, found in Vol. XLII. part 1, Official Records, page 565. 

It was just past noon when we finally reached Poplar Springs Church, and con- 
tinued on as far as the Peeble's farm, about a quarter or third of a mile beyond, 
where we turned to the north into the cpen fields south of the Peeble's House. 
The Fifth Corps had turned off to the right before reaching the church, and 
had become hotly engaged with the enemy north and east of the Peeble's House, 
taking a square redoubt and line of breastworks by a dashing charge in which 
Colonel Norvel E. Welch, of the Sixteenth Michigan, lost his life. 

The brigade formed line of battle, facing the west, along the low ground 
south and west of the Peeble's House. During the time it remained in this 
position, Colonel Cutcheon was detached with the Twentieth Michigan and Sec- 
ond Michigan, the latter under Lieutenant Colonel E. J. March, with orders to 
proceed to the Clements' House, about half a mile to the south and west, where 
the "Squirrel Level road" crossed the Poplar Springs (or White Oak) road, 
to hold that junction and scout the roads north and west for the enemy. 

The regiment had reached the Clements' House and had formed line, when or- 
ders were received from General Hartranft to return to the brigade, which was 
immediately done. The brigade now moved by the right flank about half a 
mile until the regiment lay nearly west of the Pegram House, one half mile 
north of the Peebles' place. 

In our front was a dense and almost impenetrable swamp, and by direction of 
General Hartranft, Colonel Cutcheon now sent Lieutenant Parker with a scout- 
ing party to penetrate this swamp and report whether troops could be passed 
through it. Lieutenant Parker in time reported that troops could pass it, but 
with difficulty. 

While here at the Pegram House we received some sharp artillery fire, and 
the fighting in front of General Potter, on the right, became more active and vig- 
orous. Potter's division was formed on the right of Willcox. between him and 
the Fifth Corps. 



i 5 6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



General Potter now advanced his division into the woods beyond a by-road, 
passing east and west in front of the residence of Dr. Boisseau, about three- 
fourths of a mile north of the Pegram House. 

The Second Brigade, moving by the right flank, conforming to the advance of 
Potter's division, until our right had passed beyond the Boisseau House road, 
when the left of the brigade was thrown forward into line, and formed along a 
crest about 150 yards beyond the Boisseau House. From this crest we could 
look across a wide valley and distinctly see the Boydton plank road, on the 
opposite slope, about three-fourths of a mile distant. At the same time we 
could see rebel lines of battle advancing in the direction of the woods where 
Potter's division was, their right overlapping our front. 

At this point the firing on the right, both of musketry and artillery, became 
very heavy, and began to go to our right-rear, and our brigade began to receive 
a severe fire both from the front and the right flank. 

The Second Division had broken in the woods, and let Mahone's (Confederate) 
division in upon our right and rear. At this time a large part of Curtin's 
brigade of Potter's division were taken prisoners, but with no great loss in killed 
and wounded. Curtin's brigade lost 809 and Griffin's brigade 472 "captured or 
missing." The division lost a great disproportion of officers killed and wounded, 
the total in the division being 11 officers killed and 17 wounded; enlisted men, 
46 killed and 258 wounded. 

At this crisis General Hartranft ordered Colonel Cutcheon with the Twentieth 
and Second Michigan to move to the left, past the head of the swamp, until his 
right should rest at two log barns, northwest from the Boisseau House and 
north of the road, which was quickly done. Here the two regiments were 
formed along the continuation of the crest occupied by the rest of the brigade, 
with the left refused to the road. 

Scarcely had this position been taken when the rest of the brigade line retired 
under orders of General A. A. Humphrey, chief of staff to General Meade, who 
represented that general on the field. This left the Twentieth alone, beyond the 
swamp, and unsupported, the Second retiring with the rest of the brigade along 
the east side of the swamp. 

At this moment came orders from the brigade commander for the regiment 
to withdraw, passing through the swamp if possible. At the same moment, a 
rebel cavalry regiment came out of their works on our left rear, and made a 
dash against our left. Just here the regiment met a severe loss in the mortal 
wounding of Captain Oliver Blood, Company D, and of Adjutant Jacob E. 
Siebert, both of whom fell into the hands of the enemy, but died the same night. 
Several men were also killed and wounded, and nineteen caught in the almost 
impassible jungle of the swamp, were made prisoners. Among the latter were 
Orderly Sergeant Dan Sheehan, of Company H, who after some months in a 
rebel prison made his escape through the lines into East Tennessee and was 
soon after commissioned a first lieutenant. 

Some of the regiment, instead of attempting to force their way through the 
swamp, followed along the west side until they came out on the road near the 
Clements' House, and joined the regiment the next morning. 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG *57 



After tins reverse, a new line was established by the division m front of the 
Pegram House, McLaughlin's brigade holding the right, the Twentieth being 
assigned position on the extreme left of the line, where they threw up entrench- 
ments extending to the swamp. 

Before daylight of October i the regiment was once more ordered to the cross- 
ing of the roads at the Clements' House, on the extreme left and rear of the 

C °By morning the regiment had thrown up a good breastwork, but at about 7 
o'clock we were again moved back to the flat ground north west of the Pee- 
bles' House, where we threw up more breastworks, winch we occupied until the 
morning of October 2. Meanwhile the rain fell in torrents, making our posi- 
tion in the flats a decidedly moist and uncomfortable one. 

Sunday morning, October 2, the Ninth Corps again advanced m order of bat- 
tle to a point near the Boisseau House, where we once more threw up breast- 
works The line thus taken was permanently held as our mam line on the lett, 
and Forts Fisher and Welch were built upon the prominent points commanding 
the ground as far as the line of the Boydton plank road. . ' 

While we were at work here, at about 5 o'clock p. m.. Pierce s brigade of 
Mott's division, Second Corps, passed along our rear line, and soon after made a 
charge upon a small rebel - redoubt, about Soo yards to our left. This redoubt 
was beyond the swamp, and from our position we had a perfect view of the 
movement. The charge failed to reach the rebel line, and was not pushed with 
much spirit or persistence. But as it was rather in the nature of a reconnais- 
sance it probably accomplished the object intended. 

We now remained in the same location until October 8, furnishing large de- 
tails daily for work on the forts and for slashing the woods in front. 

Fort Cummings was built near the Clements' House, Fort Welch near the site 
of the Pegram House and Fort Fisher near the site of the Boisseau House. 
Our camp was midway between the Peebles' House and the s.te of the Pegram 

House. ,. . , , . c 

On October 8, which was General Hartranft's last day in command of the Sec- 
ond Brigade, the two brigades went out on a reconnaissance in force to the west 
of the Clements' House, to feel for the Boydton plank road. We developed the 
enemy's position and after some skirmishing, we returned to camp after dark, 
the Twentieth, by order of General Hartranft, covering the withdrawal as rear- 
guard In making his official report (which see in appendix). General Har- 
tranft said • "I desire to express my entire satisfaction with the conduct of the 
regiments of the command and their commanding officers. They behaved 
nobly on the afternoon of the 30th. especially when the brigade was almost sur- 
rounded by the enemy. ****** All the regiments displayed a steadi- 
ness under trying circumstances which speaks well for their discipline. 

As this was the last time that we ever came directly under the command of 
General Hartranft, it is only due that, in taking leave of him, as brigade com- 
mander, a few words should be devoted to him. 

General Hartranft entered the service November 16. 1861. as colonel of the 
Fifty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, and as such he was identified with the history 
of the Ninth Corps from the beginning. 



i 5 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



At the battle of South Mountain, Colonel Hartranft is mentioned for gallant 
conduct, and at the battle of Antietam he was selected with his regiment to 
storm the stone bridge in front of Willcox's division, which he did with the 
greatest bravery, earning the warm praise of General Burnside. 

In the Mississippi campaign he served in Ferrero's brigade of Potter's divi- 
sion, and in the East Tennessee campaign he commanded the Second Division 
with marked ability. 

Throughout the Virginia campaign, from the Wilderness to Petersburg, he 
commanded the First Brigade of Willcox's division, and was always character- 
ized by prompt and intrepid action. 

But his greatest and most conspicuous service was near the close of the 
siege of Petersburg when, on the 25th of March, 1865, he, with his division 
of new troops, recovered the captured line at Fort Stedman, and on April 2 cap- 
tured the enemy's main line at Fort Mahone. After the war he was stationed at 
Washington Barracks in charge of the Lincoln conspirators, and was charged 
with the execution of those convicted. 

In battle, General Hartranft was cool, courageous, prompt and energetic. On 
his return to civil life, he was repeatedly elected to the office of auditor general 
of the state of Pennsylvania, and in October, 1872, he was elected governor of 
that commonwealth. 

In 1876 he Was prominently mentioned for the nomination for the presidency, 
and in convention received the support of his state. 

He died a few years since, being at the time major general commanding -the 
Pennsylvania National Guard. 

On the withdrawal of the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry from the brigade, 
on October 16, 1864, Colonel B. M. Cutcheon, Twentieth Michigan, was assigned 
to the command of the Second Brigade, as has been before stated. He had 
been the senior officer of the regiment from November 16, 1863, and in the 
actual command, except during the trip from Knoxville to Annapolis, and from 
May 10, 1864, to July 7, while in hospital with wounds received at Spottsylvania. 
On December 18, 1864, he mustered as colonel of the Twenty-seventh Michi- 
gan, after having been colonel by commission of the Twentieth, from Novem- 
ber 21, 1863. Subsequently, he was by order of the war department, mustered 
. as colonel of the Twentieth, to rank from January 8, 1864. Colonel Cutcheon 
was the only officer of the Twentieth Michigan who at any time commanded the 
brigade. 

He was succeeded in command of the regiment by Captain Alfred A. Van 
Cleve, Major C. B. Grant being still absent in Michigan on recruiting service, 
and Captain Porter, the senior captain, absent from the regiment at the time. 

Major Grant returned to the regiment on November 18, and resumed command 
on the 20th of November. He remained the commanding officer of the regiment 
until March 11, 1865, having been meanwhile promoted to lieutenant colonel, 
and commissioned as colonel, December 20, 1864. 

With the exception of the movement to Hatcher's Run, October 27 and 28, 
the regiment remained in cam]) at Peeble's farm until November 29 following. 
The location was a favorable one, the enemy was not close at hand, and there 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 159 



was little firing and few casualities. A large farm, with open fields and without 
fences, afforded excellent facilities for drills, inspections, reviews, etc. 

After Colonel Cutcheon took command of the brigade, company and battalion 
drills were regularly resumed, and brigade drills held three days in the week, 
for the first time since Newport News, with a slight exception at Erin Station 
in February, 1864. 

Brigade dress parades were held as often as circumstances were favorable, 
and thus occupied, the regiment gained rapidly in numbers, health and spirits, 
and attained an excellence in drill and discipline higher than at any previous 
period. 

On October 18 the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry marched away to City 
Point to be mounted, and never again rejoined the brigade. The Twenty-fourth 
was a fine regiment, and Colonel W. C. Newberry was one of the best officers 
in the brigade — we parted from them with regret. Colonel Newberry, after the 
close of the war removed to Chicago, and was elected a representative in con- 
gress. 

On October 26th, orders were received that the brigade should be in readi- 
ness to march at three o'clock on the morning of the 27th, with four days 
rations and 60 rounds of ammunition. 

Before the break of day the brigade was in line at, and to the left of, the 
"Clements' House" (afterward Fort Cummiugs), and as soon as it was light 
enough to see, commenced an advance in the direction of Hatcher's Run. In 
the general movement the Second Corps had the left, the Fifth Corps the center 
and the Ninth Corps the right. The Fourth Division of the Ninth Corps 
formed the pivot of the 'movement on the right, the Second Division remaining 
in our works. 

The Second Brigade led the division, and after manoeuvering through the 
woods for about two miles, came in contact with the enemy in force on the east 
side of Hatcher's Run, well protected behind heavy works and slashings. 

Considerable skirmishing continued throughout the day, while heavy fighting 
was going on further to our left, along the Boydton plank road, in front of the 
Second and Fifth Corps. 

The advance of the left was successfully resisted, the Second Corps being 
badly used. 

No attack was made or ordered by our division, but we threw up breastworks 
and lay upon our arms that night. 

On the morning of the 28th, the movement around the enemy's right having 
failed, our division was ordered to retire to our lines, which we did, arriving 
the same evening. 

The casualities of the entire brigade numbered thirty, only three of which 
occurred in the Twentieth. 

A few of the Second Michigan, including their adjutant. Fred Schneider, 
having pushed into the slashing in front of the enemy's breastwork too far to 
withdraw, were captured.* 



*The SecODd Michigan was acting as skirmishers for the brigade, under the command 
of that gallant officer, Lieut. Col. E. J. March. 



!6o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



For the details of this movement, reference is made to the official brigade 
reports in the appendix. No report was made by the regimental commander. 

The regiment now resumed its old place in the works on the Peeble's farm, 
and took up its round of duties as before, furnishing daily details for picket 
and work on fortifications, with squad, company, battalion and brigade drills. 

On November 8 a presidential election was held in the regiment, under the 
soldiers' voting law of Michigan, the vote being taken in the Twentieth by 
Joseph Warren, of Detroit, and resulted in 153 votes for Abraham Lincoln and 
35 votes for George B. McClellan. This would indicate at least 188 voters present, 
and as a considerable proportion of the regiment were under the voting age, 
or otherwise disqualified, it would indicate that the strength of the regiment had 
increased to upward of 200, and probably to more than 225, present for duty. 

On November 29 the order came to move, and at 10 a. m. we set out to march 
to the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac, where we took position for 
the winter, with our right resting along the Appomattox. 

On November 11, the Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry (dismounted) had been 
assigned to the Second Brigade, by transfer from Hartranft's First Brigade. 
This regiment had been enlisted and organized as cavalry, but through the 
exigencies of the campaign, had been equipped and used as infantry. Natur- 
ally there was much discontent resulting, which detracted from the spirit and 
discipline of the regiment. 

This battalion of about 600 men had been recruited in the early part of 1864, 
but was not assigned to the Ninth Corps until June 26. It only remained with 
the Second Brigade until December 13, when it was ordered to City Point to 
be mounted. 

It joined Sheridan's corps in time to take part in the battle of Five Forks, 
and was present at Lee's surrender at Appomattox. 

Peeble's farm was one of the pleasantest camps the regiment ever had, and 
it is remembered as a sort of resting place after the bloody _ and exhausting 
summer campaign. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



SIEGE OE PETERSBURG— BATTERY IX— FORT STEDMAN. 

December i, 1864. March 31, 1865. 

On November 29, 1864, as before stated, the regiment marched with its divi- 
sion from the Peeble's farm, then the extreme left of the army, to the extreme 
right, resting on the Appomattox River, below the city of Petersburg, where 
we relieved General Gibbon's division of the Second Corps. The distance 
marched was nearly ten miles, and the division arrived in rear of its new posi- 
tion, near the Friend House, on the original Confederate outer line, before dark, 
and during the night the troops of the brigade were conducted to their new sta- 
tions on the line, as follows : 

The Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry (dismounted) to picket the Appomattox River, 
from Battery V to Broadway Landing, a distance of about three miles ; the 
Forty-sixth New York Veteran Volunteers, in Battery V on the right bank Of 
Harrison's Creek, where it flows into the Appomattox River ; the First Michi- 
gan Sharpshooters, from the Appomatox to Fort McGilvery, which occupied the 
first high ground south from the river, being the site of the Page House ; the 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, in Fort McGilvery, a large, square 
enclosed work ; the Sixtieth Ohio, from Fort McGilvery to Battery IX ; the 
Twentieth Michigan in Battery IX, an enclosed work about 100 feet square on 
the left of the City Point Railroad ; the Second Michigan Veteran Volunteers, 
on the left of Battery IX, extending toward Fort Stedman (once the site of the 
Hare House). 

Division headquarters were established at the Friend House (also called the 
Gibbon House), and brigade headquarters in a ravine in rear of Fort McGilvery, 
and on the north side of the road from Petersburg to City Point. These 
relative positions were maintained until the 1st of March, 1865. 

On December 13, 1864, the Thirteenth Ohio was ordered to City Point to be 
mounted, and the Forty-sixth New York then performed the duty of picketing 
the Appomattox below Battery V. 

On December 18 Colonel Cutcheon mustered into the United States service as 
colonel of the Twenty-seventh Michigan, but continued without intermission 
in command of the Second Brigade. This change was made at the express and 
urgent desire of General Willcox, who apprehended the return of absent officers, 
senior to Colonel Cutcheon, in whose hands he did not wish to entrust the 
brigade. 

It was at General Willcox's urgent request that Governor Blair promptly 
issued the commission, which was accepted by Colonel Cutcheon with the ex- 
11 



i62 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



press understanding that when the first movement from the trenches should be 
made, the Twenty-seventh, which had gained a first class reputation as a fighting 
regiment, should be transferred to the Second Brigade, thereby giving it four 
Michigan regiments. 

That was what General Willcox desired, but that time never came, for with 
the first movement Petersburg fell, and the fighting of the division was over. 

The main lines were separated by only a few hundred yards, and firing was 
almost constant. Our line was, for the most part, well placed, but there were 
three rebel batteries situated on the north side of the Appomattox and opposite 
our right flank, which were extremely annoying. These were the Chesterfield 
battery, armed with heavy, English rifled guns, and the two mortar batteries, 
located on the flats opposite Fort McGilvery. These were commonly known as 
the "Gooseneck" battery, and the "Scab" battery. These mortar batteries had 
the ranges of our lines and of brigade headquarters, and frequently gave us bril- 
liant exhibitions of their fireworks. The Chesterfield battery enfiladed our line 
from the river bank to Battery X, and compelled us to erect very heavy traverses 
and to construct bomb-proofs, but in spite of all these protections, casualities 
were of frequent occurrence. 

During the month of December, 1864, nothing out of the usual course of 
events occurred. The weather was severe, and the troops suffered for want of 
fuel. We were cheered from time to time by the news of victories in other 
departments, and especially that of Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee. 

January, 1865, was an entirely uneventual period. The usual artillery duels 
and picket firing continued, and desertions from the enemy became frequent. 

On February 15, Captain Holland F. Robinson, of the Twentieth Michigan, 
serving as engineer officer on the staff of Colonel Cntcheon, commanding the 
brigade, was instantly killed by a sharpshooter, while riding the lines between 
Forts Stedman and Haskell. His remains were sent to Michigan in charge of 
Sergeant Major H. H. Stowell, of the Twentieth. A severe cannonade followed 
the killing of Captain Robinson, in which a number of casualities occurred. 

On February 22, a very heavy artillery duel occurred, occasioned by Battery V 
shelling a small train of cars. The result was three men killed and three others 
severely wounded in the brigade. This induced Colonel Cutcheon to enter a 
very vigorous and earnest protest at corps headquarters against this needless 
sacrifice (see appendix). 

On March 6 the brigade changed hands for the last time, Colonel Cutcheon 
having mustered out of the service, and Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Ely, of the 
Eighth Michigan Infantry, being assigned to the command. There was no 
change in the regiments of the command. 

The month of March was much like the three preceding months until about 
the 24th, when there were signs of unusual activity on the enemy's lines. 

At 4 o'clock on the morning of March 25, while it was still quite dark, Gen- 
eral Gordon's (Confederate) corps made an attack upon the front of the Third 
Brigade, Brigadier General N. B. McLaughlin, commanding, and took Fort Sted- 
man with a rush, capturing a large part of the garrison. Through the breach 
so made in our line, the rebel forces then commenced to pour, and turning to the 



SIEGE OF PETERSBURG 163 

left, began to sweep down the line along the old road which ran in rear of and 
nearly parallel with our works, until they struck the left of the second Brigade, 
which was held by the Second Michigan. 

Here a hand-to-hand conflict ensued for the possession of the left traverses, 
and a part of the Second Regiment, driven from their possession by the move- 
ment down the City Point road in their rear, took refuge in Battery IX, with the 
Twentieth. Captain Albert A. Day was in command of the regiment, Lieutenant 
Colonel Grant being absent on leave, on account of the illness of his wife. Cap- 
tain Day, finding the fort assailed from the rear, moved a part of the regiment 
to that side of the fort, and the artillery opened upon the masses of the enemy 
who had broken through our lines on the Hare House Hill. 

This was all before daylight. By daylight the enemy had possession of the 
main line from Fort Haskell on the left to the Second Michigan, just outside of 
Battery IX, on the right, a distance of fully three-fourths of a mile. 

Our former brigade commander, General John F. Hartranft, was then in 
command of the Third Division, consisting of six new Pennsylvania regiments, 
the Two Hundredth, Two Hundred and Fifth, Two Hundred and Seventh, 
Two Hundred and Eighth, Two Hundred and Ninth and Two Hundred 
and Eleventh, which had never before been in action. This division, organized 
into two brigades, was extended along the Military Railroad line from the 
Dunn House battery on the right to Fort Howard on the left. General Har- 
tranft's headquarters were at the Avery House. With all possible dispatch, 
General Hartranft brought forward his division, and they were formed on the 
ridges east of Harrison Creek, to hold in check a further advance of the enemy, 
which he succeeded in doing. In his official report, General Hartranft says : 

"Here (at the old line of works near the Dunn House battery), the Two Hun- 
dred and Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers formed a connection on the right 
of the Two Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and with the aid of the fire 
from Battery IX, which had opened, and "the Twentieth Michigan which gar- 
risoned this battery, and the Second and Seventeenth Michigan of the First 
Division, which covered the ground between the right of the Two Hundred and 
Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers and Battery IX, I had a strong line, which I 
determined could be held, and check and further advance in this direction." 

Battery IX was the point of support where the new line under Hartranft 
joined the permanent main line, and on the steadiness and soldierly qualities of 
this regiment, the Twentieth Michigan, depended much of the success of the 
subsequent operations. 

Captain A. A. Day, commanding the Twentieth, in his official report (March 
27, 1865), says: "Meantime, it having grown sufficiently light to disclose the 
enemy in heavy mass on the slope of the hill to the right of Fort Stedman, and 
also in the road in rear of the same, I immediately caused the men, about 150 
in number, to open a rapid musketry fire upon those of their troops who occu- 
pied these positions. I have reason to believe that this fire was very effective 
being at easy long range, well directed, and its object being a body of men 
in heavy mass, occupying a side hill the face of which was presented to this 
battery. This firing was continued throughout the engagement. At 7 .30 a. m. 



!6 4 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



the enemy being completely broken, and retreating rapidly in disorder, I threw 
a part of my regiment into the skirmish line, on the left of this battery (IX), 
in order to check them as they attempted to cross the main line on their 
retreat. Three hundred and fifteen men and their officers, with a brass band, 
were thus captured and forwarded to brigade headquarters under guard." 

It was at this time, 7 -.30, that General Hartranft charged with his division, 
and succeeded in regaining the entire line. Nineteen hundred and forty-nine 
prisoners, including seventy-one commissioned officers were taken in our works, 
or in attempting to regain their own lines. Nine battle flags and many hundreds 
of small arms were among the trophies. A thousand and five prisoners fell 
into the hands of Willcox's division. It was a great satisfaction to the regiment 
that in their last actual battle, they were able to render so efficient and important 
aid in gaining a most brilliant victory. It compensated, in some degree, for the 
mortification of the disaster at the Crater on the 30th of July, 1S64. 

For his coolness and good conduct on this occasion, Captain A. A. Day, com- 
manding the regiment, received the brevet of major of United States volunteers. 

Major Frank Porter, who had received a leave of absence the day previous, 
was present during the battle and rendered efficient aid in the defense of the 
fort, though not in command. 

The loss of the regiment was small, none being killed and only nine wounded, 
mostly slightly. The loss of the brigade was four killed, twenty-six wounded 
and nineteen captured ; total, forty-nine. 

In McLaughlin's brigade seventeen officers and four hundred and thirteen men 
were swept off and captured. 

At one time during the battle, under the impression that the rebels had cap- 
tured Battery IX, our guns on the ridge in the rear commenced throwing shells 
into the fort. Then our colors were planted on the parapet, and the artillerymen 
seeing that our "flag was still there," immediately ceased firing on their friends 
and turned their guns on the enemy. 

By direction of Colonel Ely some of the guns in Fort McGilvery were run 
out to the rear of the fort and did most effective work by enfilading the rebel line 
in the road along Harrison Creek. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG-OCCUPATION OF THE CITY-AFTER 
THE SURRENDER-MUSTER OUT— RETURN— THE END. 

March 26, 1865. May 30, 1865. 

The end was now not far away, and a feeling of confidence and relief prevailed 
throughout the army. Everything betokened an early ending of the war. 

As early as March 14 orders had been issued from army headquarters to all 
corps commanders to prepare for a general movement to commence on March 
29, when it was hoped that the weather and the roads would be sufficiently set- 
tled and the cavalry in readiness to inaugurate the final campaign. 

The cavalry corps, under General Sheridan, reached Petersburg from the 
Shenandoah Valley on March 27 and, after only one day's rest, started out on 
that final and most extraordinary campaign of twelve days, which really ended 

the war. 

Crossing the Weldon Railroad at Ream's Station— the scene of Hancocks 
most unfortunate battle of August 25— Sheridan reached Dinwiddie Court House 
that night. During the 30th the cavalry advanced to the vicinity of Five Forks. 
On the 31st was fought the battle of Dinwiddie Court House, and on April 1, 
the Battle of Five Forks, in which an entire division of the enemy was made 
prisoners. At this time the whole of the Fifth Corps and most of the Second 
had been withdrawn from the Petersburg lines and sent around the left in hopes 
of preventing the escape of Lee's army from Petersburg. The Ninth Corps 
was holding the whole line, from the Appomattox on the right to Weldon Rail- 
road on the left, a distance of fully six miles. 

On the evening of April 1, while the battle of Five Forks was still in progress, 
General John G. Parke, commanding the Ninth Corps, received orders to assault 
the enemy's line at 4 o'clock on the morning cf April 2. He determined to make 
the assault on the line of the Jerusalem plank road, and for that purpose con- 
centrated the whole of Potter's and Hartranft's divisions at that point, except 
the garrisons of the forts, together with Harriman's brigade of Willcox's divi- 
sion. 

In aid of this assault, and to prevent the enemy from concentrating at that 
point, General Willcox was ordered to demonstrate heavily on his right, at the 
same hour. Accordingly, orders were communicated to Colonel Ely, command- 
ing the Second Brigade, to be ready at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 2nd 
of April to make the best demonstration possible on the enemy's lines. 

Colonel Ely caused the brigade to be formed in rear of the skirmish pits in 
two columns, the First Sharpshooters, supported by the Forty-sixth New York, 



166 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



on the right, in front of the Sharpshooters line, and the Second Michigan, sup- 
ported by the Twentieth Michigan, on the left, in front of Battery IX. 

The Second Michigan made no charge and consequently the Twentieth was 
not called upon to support them. 

On the right, however, the First Sharpshooters made more of a demonstration 
than was intended, and actually carried a portion of the enemy's line next to the 
Appomattox River, but not being supported, were soon forced to retire again to 
their own works, with a loss of forty-one killed, wounded and missing. 

After daylight, the Twentieth was stationed in front of Fort McGilvery, and 
a brisk skirmish was kept up, but no charge was made, and at about 9 o'clock, 
the regiment was withdrawn to Battery IX, the assault on Fort Mahone having 
been successfully carried out. 

During the night of the 2d the men were standing under arms, wearied by 
days and nights of incessant watching; there were fires burning and explosions 
in the city; the low, distant rumbling of moving artillery and wagon trains was 
distinctly heard; signal rockets from the enemy's lines exploded high in the air; 
the breastworks were mounted by a soldier, bolder than the rest, followed by 
another and another, until the earthworks were lined with men standing with 
bated breath, every nerve strained to its utmost tension, conscious of some great 
impending event — a rush to death against the forts and breastworks in our front, 
or a quick march to a bloodless victory — which? No one knew. 

Then came the swift uprising of a great mass of flame and smoke from the 
low ground across the river away in the distance, followed by a dull roar as 
of distant thunder, betokening the destruction of "Old Cxooseneck," which had 
so often tumbled its monster shells into our lines, and telling us plainer than 
words that the city was being evacuated, the "rebels were on the run," the 
object for which we had battled for four long years was within our grasp, that 
victory was ours. 

At 3:10 a. m. the advance commenced, the First Sharpshooters leading, the 
Second supporting and the Twentieth being the third in the column. Colonel 
Ely did not personally accompany the advance, but Brevet Major C. A. Louns- 
berry, Twentieth Michigan, acting assistant adjutant general of the brigade, con- 
ducted the advance, forming the regiments and conducting them forward. The 
works were found deserted, except for a few stragglers, and the command ad- 
vanced as rapidly as the darkness and the ground would permit, into the city 
of Petersburg, along the line of the City Point road. 

They met with no opposition in entering the town, and at 4:28 a. m., on the 
morning of April 3, 1865, the long-sought consummation was achieved, and the 
flag of the First Michigan Sharpshooters was hoisted on the Court House, and 
the colors of the Second Michigan on the Custom House, a few minutes later. 

The colors of the Twentieth Michigan were raised upon the Court House 
soon after the Sharpshooters, the honor of raising the first flag being accorded 
to the latter in consideration of their gallant charge and heavy loss in men on 
the morning of April 2. Immediately after the raising of the flags, the mayor 
and a committee of citizens tendered to Major Lounsberry, Twentieth Michi- 
gan, as representing the brigade commander, a formal surrender of the city of 



ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG 167 

Petersburg, which was accepted, and the brigade at once placed on provost guard 
duty for the preservation of order. As the surrender is a very brief document, 
it is here inserted, as a matter of interest to every member of the Twentieth 
Michigan : 

Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, Petersburg, April 3, 1865. 

Commanding Armies of the U. S. or 
Major General Commanding U. S. Forces. 

General — The city of Petersburg having been evacuated by the Confederate 
troops, we, a committee authorized by the common council, do hereby sur- 
render the city to the U. S. forces, with a request for the protection of the 
persons and property of its inhabitants. 

We are, respectfully, your obedient servants, 

W. M. TOWNS, Mayor. 
DARCY PAUL. 
CHAS. F. COLLIER. 

The jail adjacent to the Court House was found full of prisoners. In the 
absence of the jailor, the Twentieth boys broke the locks on the doors and let 
out all the inmates, mostly negroes, regardless of the crime for which they 
were incarcerated. 

The brigade remained on provost duty in the city of Petersburg until the 
morning of April 5, when they moved out of the city along the Cox road to 
Sutherland Station, ten miles southwest of Petersburg, on the South Side Rail- 
road. Here the brigade remained doing duty until the day of Lee's surrender, 
April 9, when it moved forward to Ford's Station, and encamped on Ford's 
farm. 

On April 19 the command received orders to march the next morning, April 
20, for City Point, en route for Washington. City Point was reached on the 
22d, and on the 23d the brigade disembarked from the transports at Alex- 
andria, and encamped about two miles from the city, near Fort Lyon ; so that 
after more than two and a half years, the regiment came back to "Cow Hollow," 
the starting point where it camped the day after its arrival in Washington, 
September 4, 1862. It remained here until April 28, when it marched to the 
north side of the Potomac, crossing the river on Long Bridge and, passing 
through the cities of Washington and Georgetown, encamped about four miles 
from the capital, beyond the village of Tenallytown, in the District of Columbia, 
where it remained until mustered out, May 30, 1865. 

Immediately afterward, on June 1, it embarked by railroad for Michigan, and 
reached Jackson on June 4, just two years nine months and four days from the 
day it left there, September 1, 1862. On June 9 it was paid off and disbanded. 

On the 23d day of May, 1865. the regiment participated in the "Grand Review" 
in the city of Washington, by the president, the cabinet and the general of the 
army. Upon this occasion the regiment marched under the command of Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Lounsberry, he having been mustered into the United States 
service as such, April 29, 1865. 



168 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Before Lieutenant Colonel Grant's leave of absence expired, General Lee had 
surrendered, and he thereupon telegraphed his resignation to the secretary of war, 
and it was accepted. 

The organization of the regiment at its muster out on May 30, 1865, as ap- 
pears from the report of the adjutant general of the state of Michigan for 1865- 
6, showing rank by commission from the state, was as follows : 

Colonel Clement A. Lounsberry, mustered out with regiment. 

Lieutenant Colonel Francis Porter, mustered out with regiment. 

Major Edwin M. Adams, mustered out with regiment. 

Surgeon Orville P. Chubb, mustered out with regiment. 

Assistant Surgeon Henry B. Baker, mustered out with regiment. 

Adjutant George B. Arnold, mustered out as sergeant major, May 30, 1865. 

Quartermaster Clark S. Wortley, mustered out with regiment. 

Captains. 

Captain N. Augustus Parker, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Martin C. Dawes, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Alexander Bush, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Henry B. Carpenter, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Albert A. Day, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Henry H. Stowell, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Prescott M. Skinner, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Adrian C. White, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 
Captain Horace V. Knight, mustered out May 30, with regiment. 

First Lieutenants. 

First Lieutenant Thomas B. Morehouse, mustered out May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant Charles W. Maynard, mustered out May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant Edwin Hudson, mustered out May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant George M. Norton, mustered out May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant Albert B. Taylor, mustered out May 30, 1865 

First Lieutenant John P. Baker, mustered out May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant Daniel Sheehan, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant Homer Spencer, mustered out as sergeant. May 30, 1865. 

First Lieutenant Reuben E. Manning, mustered out as sergeant. May 30, 1865. 

Second Lieutenants. 

Second Lieutenant James D. Turnbull, mustered out, May 30, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Stephen O. Bryant, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Frank A. Fassett, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Leonard C. Rice, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant Walton H. Chadwick, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 

1865. 

Second Lieutenant John E. Irwin, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 



ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG 169 



Second Lieutenant David S. Monroe, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 
Second Lieutenant Andrew Morton, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 
Second Lieutenant John Thomas, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 
Second Lieutenant Merton A. Bell, mustered out as sergeant, May 30, 1865. 

Resigned. 

Colonel Claudius B. Grant— March 11, 1865. 
Chaplain Joseph Jones— May 17. 1865. 
Captain Alfred A. Van Cleve— January 12, 1865. 
Captain Charles C. Dodge— April 18, 1865. 
First Lieutenant J. R. Mowry— May 6, 1865. 

As given in the Unites States Volunteer Army Register, published by the 
government after the close of the war (part 5, page 327). the organization at 
muster out was as follows, showing the status in the service of the United 
States : 

Lieutenant Colonel Clement A. Lounsberry, April 29. 1865; brevet major, 
December 2, 1864. 

Major. 

Frank Porter, January 21, 1865. 

Captains. 

Albert A. Day, September 26, 1864; brevet major, March 25, 1865. 

Henry B. Carpenter, November 30, 1864. 

N. Augustus Parker, February 4. 1865. 

Edwin M. Adams, February 4, 1865. 

Martin C. Dawes, February 13, 1865. 

Henry H. Stowell, February 13. 1865. 

Horace V. Knight, May 7, 1865. 

» First Lieutenants. 

James R. Mowry, April 25, 1863. 

Clark S. Wortley, R. Q. M., April 9, 1864. 

Prescott M. Skinner, June 30, 1864. 

Adrian C. White, adjutant, November 16, 1864. 

Thomas B. Morehouse, December 5, 1864. 

Alexander Bush, January 11, 1865. 

Edwin Hudson, February 4, 1865. 

George W. Norton, February 4, 1865. 

Charles W. Maynard, February 13, 1865. 

Albert B. Taylor, February 13, 1865. 

John P. Baker, February 13, 1865. 



170 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Second Lieutenants. 

James D. Turnbull, surgeon, October 25, 1864. 
Orville B. Chubb, assistant surgeon, August 9, 1864. 
Henry B. Baker, August 19, 1864. 

Note. — Many of the above dates are different from those given in "Michigan 
in the War." 

An examination of the foregoing list of officers will disclose the fact that the 
only commissioned officer of the regiment at the muster out, who was mustered 
in with the regiment as a commissioned officer, was Lieutenant Colonel Francis 
Porter, who had been an original lieutenant of Company E, from Parma. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



COMMANDERS AND COMRADES. 

May 30, 1865. 

General O. B. Willcox— His farewell to the Twentieth and Seventeenth Michi- 
gan— Our comrades of the other Michigan regiments of Willcox's divi- 
sion — Regimental losses. 

On May 30, 1865— the same day that the Twentieth was formally mustered out 
of the United States service— General O. B. Willcox issued a farewell order to 
the Seventeenth and Twentieth Michigan, a copy of which will be found in the 
appendix, in which he said : "The term of service of the Twentieth and Seven- 
teenth Michigan Volunteer Regiments * * * expiring before the 1st of 
October next, they will be mustered out and proceed to their respective rendez- 
vous. 

"The Seventeenth and Twentieth Michigan have served nearly three years under 
their present division commander. 

"It is with pride and gratitude that he refers to their distinguished gallantry 
on many a hard-fought field, from South Mountain to Petersburg. * * * 
May those who remain of these distinguished regiments live long to enjoy the 
reward of well doing and lofty patriotism in the happiness of honorable homes 
and the admiration of their countrymen." 

With such words did our oldest and most beloved commander part from us. 

Other commanders came to us for a short periods—as Burns, Welsh and 
Ferrero, but ours was always "Willcox's Division." 

He was himself a Michigan man, having gone out, May 1, 1861, as the first 
Michigan colonel of the First Michigan Regiment. He was wounded and made 
a prisoner while commanding a brigade at the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 

1861. After almost thirteen months in various rebel prisons, he was exchanged 
August 17, 1862. He was immediately promoted to be brigadier general of 
U. S. volunteers, to rank as such from July 21, 1861 ; was made a major general 
by brevet August 1, 1864, and commanded the First Division (formerly Third) 
from the time we left Annapolis until after the close of hostilities. After the 
war he commanded the military district of Virginia, and was mustered out of 
the volunteer service January 15, 1866. 

Immediately after his appointment as brigadier general of volunteers, August, 

1862, he was assigned to the command of the First Division of the Ninth Corps, 
which he commanded with distinguished success in the battles of South Moun- 
tain and Antietam. Then, for a time, he commanded the Ninth Corps while 



i 7 2 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

General Burnside was in command of the Army of the Potomac ; then he came 
back again to his old division. 

When the corps went to Kentucky, he was again assigned to the command, 
with headquarters at Lexington, until the corps was about to go to Mississippi, 
when General Willcox was placed in command fo the military district of Indi- 
ana, with headquarters at Indianapolis. While we were absent in Mississippi, 
General Willcox was engaged in the pursuit and destruction of the raiding 
column of General John H. Morgan, and in raising new regiments for the 
East Tennessee campaign. 

He did not go forward to East Tennessee with the division, but followed 
soon after with a provisional brigade of new regiments, with which he reported 
to General Burnside at Cumberland Gap on October 5, 1863, and with which he 
reached Blue Springs on October 10. He held Cumberland Gap and the upper 
part of the valley during the Knoxville campaign, and rejoined the corps about 
the time it left Blain's Cross Roads, January, 1864, and thenceforward com- 
manded our division until it was disbanded. 

General Willcox was a thoroughly reliable and patriotic officer, always 
prompt and energetic in carrying out orders, and on occasion, as at Ny River, 
quick to take advantage of an opportunity. 

His relations with his brigade and regimental officers were always cordial 
and pleasant. 

General Willcox re-entered the service in the regular army, July, 1866, and 
after a long and most honorable career, for the past fifteen years has been on 
the retired list, and residing in honorable retirement in the city of Washington. 

Now in his eightieth year, he remembers with undiminished affection the old 
division, and the comrades who served with him o"r under his command. 

He is the only man living who commanded the Ninth Corps or the Willcox 
division, as General Cutcheon is the only survivor of those who commanded the 
old brigade.* 

General Willcox had in his division six Michigan regiments — the Second, 
Eighth, Seventeenth, Twentieth and Twenty-seventh Infantry, and the First 
Michigan Sharpshooters. 

He was undoubtedly strongly attached to every one of them ; but if any could 
be named to which he seemed more attached than others, we think it would be 
the Second, Seventeenth and Twentieth. 

Perhaps because these regiments were brigaded together so long, and their 
consequent strong attachment for each other, and perhaps because during the 
Knoxville campaign and the following winter, and almost throughout the entire 
campaign of 1864, they were under a Michigan brigade commander, or for what- 
ever reason, these three seem naturally to form a group by themselves. It may 
be that we are not warranted in this inference, and perhaps the thought was more 
in our mind than in his. 

But if any one regiment was a prime favorite it was probably the Seventeenth. 

*As appears from the foregoing narrative, Lieut. Colonel W C. Newberry, of the 24th 
New York Cavalrv, was in command from Oct. 9th to Oct. 16, 1864 : and Lieut. Colonel 
E. J. March, of the Second Michigan, was in command while Colonel Cutcheon was on 
a twenty-day leave in January and February, 1865. 



OUR COMRADES OF THE OLD BRIGADE 173 



That regiment came to him just as he took command of the division, and it 
immediately afterward covered itself with glory at South Mountain and won a 
lasting place in history. The lustre of their achievement was reflected upon 
their "commander, and from that day he held them in high esteem. After their 
disaster at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, he took the remnant of the regiment to 
his headquarters as acting engineers, and retained them there until the end of 
hostilities. 

The Second Michigan regiment went to the front at about the same time as his 
own, the First, was at the battle of Bull Run, and had made a most honorable rec- 
ord all the way from Blackburn's Ford to the assault on Petersburg. With such 
distinguished officers as Richardson, Poe and Humphrey, it could not well be 
otherwise than a favorite. It made an especially brilliant record at Jackson, 
Mississippi, at Knoxville, Tennessee, and at Spottsylvania, Virginia. It would 
be natural 'that its remarkable exploit in saving Wright's battery at Spottsylvania, 
May 12, 1864, and thus protecting the left of his division, should give the regi- 
ment a very warm place in his heart. 

Any commander becomes attached to an organization which he finds he can 
ahvays depend upon. 

The Twentieth was under the command of General Willcox from the day it 
took the field almost continuously to the end of the service. 

The regiment was always characterized by great steadiness. It usually did 
the thing it was set to do, and it never left its place until it was ordered to go. 
In Kentucky, at the Cumberland, in Mississippi, at Campbell's Station and at 
Knoxville, at Ny River and Spottsylvania, at North Anna and Bethesda Church, 
at' Petersburg on the 18th of June and at the Crater on July 30. at Poplar Springs 
Church and at Battery Nine the regiment acquitted itself to the entire approval 
of the division commander. 

The Eighth Michigan Infantry had a career not one whit less distinguished 
than the other Michigan regiments of the division. Its most notable feat of 
arms was the assault on the rebel fort at Secessionville, James Island, S. C, 
June 16, 1862, where it made a most daring and dashing charge, and gained 
the parapet of the fort, but was obliged to relinquish it, with a loss of 48 killed, 
120 wounded and 9 missing; a total of 177 out of 25 officers and 509 men 
who went into the action. 

In the Wilderness the regiment, then in command of Colonel Frank Graves, 
and serving in the brigade of General Hartranft, lost 11 killed, 80 wounded and 
14 missing; a total of 105 out of about 300 engaged. Of the wounded, 15 died 
of their wounds. The regiment again suffered severely at Spottsylvania, May 12; 
at Bethesda Church, June 3, and in the assault on Petersburg, June 17 and 18. 
At the Wilderness Colonel Frank Graves was killed inside the enemy's breast- 
works; at Bethesda Church Major W. E. Lewis fell, mortally wounded, and on 
the Weldon Railroad, August 19, 1864, Major Horatio Belcher fell, pierced 
with three of the enemy's bullets, while heroically leading his regiment against 
the foe in the woods near Globe Tavern. 

The Eighth lost during its service in killed and wounded, 783 in a total 



i 74 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



enrollment of 1,770. The killed and died of wounds numbered 225, or 15.5 
per cent. 

The Sharpshooters were with the division during but one campaign. This 
was a new regiment. Before its organization had been completed it took part 
in chasing John Morgan's raiders out of the state of Indiana. Then it guarded 
rebel prisoners at Camp Douglas, Chicago, until March, 1864, and during that 
month was attached to Willcox's division, at Annapolis, Maryland. 

It participated in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, losing nine killed or 
mortally wounded. At Ny River, May 9, it met a temporary reverse, but on the 
12th it bore itself most gallantly, Major John Piper being killed and Colonel De 
Land wounded. The total loss on that bloody day was 34 killed, 117 wounded 
and three missing. Sharing with its division in the affairs at North Anna and 
Bethesda Church, it met its next great loss in the charge near the Taylor house, 
in front of Petersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1864. 

Here the regiment made a desperate charge and took the enemy's breastworks 
with a large number of prisoners, but the enemy returning in greatly superior 
numbers, the regiment was forced back, leaving Major Levant C. Rhines and 
36 men killed or mortally wounded, and 81, including Adjutant Buckbee, prison- 
ers in the hands of the Confederates. 

The regiment participated in all the remaining operations of its division, 
around Petersburg, until on April 2, 1865, it made a most dashing charge upon 
the enemy's works next the Appomattox, losing 41 killed and wounded. 

On the next morning, April 3, it led the advance of the brigade into the city 
of Petersburg, and as elsewhere stated, was honored by being first to raise its 
flag upon the Court House. In this campaign the Sharpshooters proved them- 
selves worthy associates of the older regiments of the brigade and division. 

During their service the regiment lost 137 killed, out of an enrollment of 
1,101 ; total killed and wounded, 491. 

The Twenty-seventh Michigan was a younger regiment than the Second, 
Eighth, Seventeenth and Twentieth. It left the state in April, 1863, and was 
attached to the Willcox division in the following June, as an eight-company 
regiment. 

It shared in the East Tennessee campaign, and at Blue Springs, Huff's Ferry, 
Campbell's Station and at Knoxville, behaved with a steadiness and valor worthy 
of a veteran regiment. 

Having been filled up to a full ten-company regiment during the winter of 
1863-64, it entered the Wilderness campaign under command of Major Moody, 
as a part of Hartranft's brigade. 

Major Moody was a most intrepid officer and the Twenty-seventh was never 
kept out of a hard place by him. During the month of May, 1864, its casualties 
were 47 killed, 230 wounded and 16 missing. During June there were 21 killed, 
149 wounded and 23 missing; total of two months, 68 killed, 379 wounded, 39 
missing ; aggregate 486. 

During these two months the regiment was heavily engaged in the Wilderness, 
at Spottsylvania, May 12, at North Anna, May 24 and 25, at Bethesda Church, 
June 3, where the gallant Major Moody fell, mortally wounded. 



OUR COMRADES OF THE OLD BRIGADE 175 

At Petersburg on the 17th and 18th of Tune, the regiment was engaged in 
the assault on the enemy's works, Colonel Fox being wounded on the 17th. He 
had joined the command on May 17, while still before Spottsylvania. He never 
again returned to active duty with the regiment. 

The Twenty-seventh had its full share in the bloody day at the Crater, and 
later at the Weldon Railroad and at Peeble's Farm. Its career was fitly crowned 
by the charge on Fort Mahone, on the Jerusalem plank road, on the morning of 
April 2, 1865, where the regiment, although placed in reserve, charged most gal- 
lantly under command of Colonel Charles Waite, and efficiently assisted in the 
capture of that work. 

For their share in this assault Colonel Waite was made a brevet brigadier 
general, while Captains Norton, Hadwick and Davison, were each honored with 
brevets as major. The loss of the regiment in this assault was fortunately 
not large. 

Each of these six Michigan regiments of the Willcox division are placed by 
Colonel Fox in his work on "Regimental Losses of the Civil War," among the 
"Three Hundred Fighting Regiments" of the Civil War. 

The loss of the Twenty-Seventh in its two years' service, is placed at 10 officers 
and 215 men killed or died of wounds; total killed and wounded, 805; died of 
disease, 207; out of a total enrollment of 1,485. 

The Twentieth Regiment had during its service a total enrollment of only 1,114. 
It lost in killed 124, or II. I per cent; killed and wounded, 406; died of disease, 

173. 

Its loss in officers was especially severe. During the Wilderness campaign it 
lost killed in battle, the major commanding, George C. Barnes; its adjutant, 
Jacob E. Siebert; four captains, McCollum. Carpenter, Dewey and Blood, and 
four lieutenants, Ainsworth, Barney, Gould and Hicks, and very few of the 
remaining officers escaped wounds. 

The Seventeenth Michigan suffered its greatest losses in four battles: South 
Mountain, September 14, 1862; Antietam, September 17, 1862; Campbell's Sta- 
tion, November 16, 1863, and Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 12, 1864. In these 
four actions it suffered a loss in killed and died of wounds of 115. Its total loss 
in killed was 135, or 11.8 per cent in an enrollment of 1.137. 

The Second Michigan had a long and brilliant record. In three years it suf- 
fered a loss in killed of 225 ; total killed and wounded, 806 ; total enrollment, 
1,725 ; per cent of killed, 13. 

Its heaviest losses were at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, Virginia, Jackson, 
Mississippi, Knoxville, Tennessee, and assault on Petersburg, June 17 and 18. 
In the latter attack it suffered a loss in the two days of 65 killed and died of 
wounds. 

Of the eleven Michigan infantry regiments placed by Fox among the ''Three 
Hundred Fighting Regiments of the Civil War," six belonged to the Willcox 
division. 

Such were our heroic companions in arms and the sharers of our service. We 
learned to honor and trust and love them all, but from being so long in the 
same brigade, and from standing so often in the same battle line, the Second 



176 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

and Seventeenth seemed a little more like brothers than the rest. They were 
with us at Fredericksburg, in the Kentucky and Mississippi campaigns, and in 
the East Tennessee campaign. They stood on our right and left at Campbell's 
Station, they were by our side at Knoxville, they came to our rescue at Ny 
River and Spottsylvania, and marched with us to the end of our campaigning. 
But we are proud of all the Michigan regiments of the "Old Willcox Division." 
Though almost four decades have passed since we mustered out, still the bonds 
of our common service and of mutual perils and losses seem as strong and 
firm as ever. 

But they will march together no more. Most of them have already pitched 
their tents "on Fame's eternal camping ground." And here this story must end. 

After two years and three-quarters of constant and severe campaigning in 
the states of Maryland. Virginia. Kentucky. Mississippi, in Kentucky a second 
time, in Tennessee, and then once more in Virginia, through the arduous and 
bloody campaign from Wilderness to Battery Nine, and after having traveled 
in our campaigns upward of seven thousand miles, the Twentieth Michigan, 
or what was left of it, disbanded and separated to their homes, grateful to be 
once more with friends and relatives and loved ones, and profoundly thankful 
that they had been permitted to bear an honorable part in the great struggle that 
"government of the people, for the people and by the people" might not perish 
from the earth. That they" and their friends, their children and their posterity, 
may have a connected narrative of their marches, sieges, battles, adventures by 
flood and field, as well as their sacrifices in a great cause, this Story of the 
Twentieth Michigan has been written, with love and pride for the "Old Regi- 
ment." 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

ARMY, CORPS, DIVISION, AND BRIGADE ORGANIZATIONS. 

1862. 1865. 

From the foregoing chapters and the following appendix, it appears that the 
Twentieth Michigan was connected with other and larger organizations as shown 
below : 

I. ARMIES. 

1. From August 19, 1862, to September 6, 1862, an independent regiment. 

2. September 6, 1862, assigned to the Army of the Potomac, with the First 

Division of the Ninth Corps. 

3. February 14, 1863, transferred to the Army of Virginia, under General John 

A. Dix, at Newport News. 

4. March 25. 1863, attached to the Army of the Ohio, headquarters at Cincin- 

nati. 

5. June 4, 1863, ordered to the Army of the Tennessee, at Vicksburg and oper- 

ated therewith until August 3. 1863. 

6. August 12. returned to the Army of the Ohio and continued therewith until 

April 7, 1864. 

7. April 23, 1864, set out from Annapolis to join the Army of the Potomac. 

May 5, formed junction with the Army of the Potomac. May 24. consoli- 
dated with the Army of the Potomac and remained connected therewith 
until the end of its service. 

II. CORPS. 

The regiment was attached to the Ninth Army Corps from the beginning 
to the end of its service. The Ninth Corps was commanded by General A. E. 
Burnside, until he took command of the Army of the Potomac, then by General 
O. B. Willcox. until General Burnside was superseded ; April 4 to June 4, 1863, 
by General Willcox; during the Mississippi campaign by Major General John 
G. Parke; during the campaign in East Tennessee by Brigadier General Robert 
B. Potter; April 7, 1864. to August 7. 1864. by Major General Burnside; August 

8. 1864, to end of war. by Major General John G. Parke. 

III. DIVISIONS. 

September 6, 1862, the regiment was attached to the First Division, but did 
not actually join until September 23, 1862. It continued attached to the First 
12 



i 7 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Division until April, 1864, when the designation of the division was changed to 
the Third Division, and so continued until September 13, 1864, when the designa- 
tion was once more changed to the First Division, and so continued until the 
regiment was mustered out and disbanded. 
During this time, the division was under the following named commanders : 

(a) Brigadier General O. B. Willcox, September 7, 1862, to November 2, 

1862. 

(b) Brigadier General W. W. Burns, November 2, 1862, to January 16, 1863. 

(c) Brigadier General O. B. Willcox, from January 16, 1863, to June 3, 1863. 

(d) Brigadier General Thomas Welch, June 4 to August 3, 1863, when the 
division left Mississippi. General Welch died at Cairo soon after, be- 
fore rejoining the command. 

(e) Brigadier General Edward Ferrero, from August 23, 1863, to January 16, 
1864. 

(f ) Brigadier General O. B. Willcox commanded the First Division (in East 

Tennessee) from January, 1864, until it was reorganized as Third 
Division, at Annapolis, Maryland, April, 1864. He then commanded 
the same division until the number was changed to the First, on Sep- 
tember 13, and then commanded the division as the First until it was 
finally disbanded. 

IV. BRIGADES. 

(a) When we joined we were assigned to the First Brigade of the First 

Division, at Antietam Creek, September 23, 1862. The brigade was com- 
manded by Colonel Benjamin C. Christ, Fiftieth Pennsylvania, and 
consisted of : 

Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, Captain Carrahar. 
Seventeenth Michigan, Colonel Withington. 
Seventy-ninth New York, Lieutenant Colonel Morrison. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Major Overton. 
Twentieth Michigan, Colonel Williams. 

(b) October 29, Colonel William M. Fenton took command and continued 

until November 15, when the Second Michigan was transferred to the 
brigade, and Colonel, afterward General, O. M. Poe took command. 

(c) General Poe continued in command until (about) March 3, 1863, but 

was absent on leave for a time, during which Colonel William M. 
Fenton resumed command. 

(d) During the Kentucky campaign, March 26 to June 4, the brigade was 

under the command of Colonel David Morrison, Seventy-ninth New 

York, and consisted of the following regiments : 

Seventy-ninth New York. 

Eighth Michigan, Colonel Graves. 

Second Michigan, Colonel Humphrey. 

Twentieth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Smith. 

(e) During the Mississippi campaign, our brigade was the Third of the 

First Division, Colonel Daniel Leasure, One Hundredth Pennsylvania, 
commanding, and consisted of the following: 



ORGANIZATIONS 179 



One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Dawson. 
Seventy-ninth New York, Colonel David Morrison. 
Second Michigan, Colonel William Humphrey. 
Eighth Michigan, Colonel Frank Graves. 
Twentieth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Smith, 
(f ) During the East Tennessee campaign, the Seventy-ninth New York and 
Eighth Michigan were transferred to the First Brigade, Colonel Mor- 
rison commanding, and the Third Brigade consisted of the 
One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Dawson. 
Second Michigan, Colonel William Humphrey. 
Seventeenth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Comstock. 
Twentieth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Smith and Major Cutcheon. 
Colonel Leasure commanded the brigade until November 10, when 
he was detached, and Colonel William Humphrey took command, 
which he retained until January 11, 1864. At that date the One Hun- 
dredth and Fiftieth Pennsylvania started on their veteran furlough, and 
the Twentieth Michigan was transferred to Morrison's First Brigade, 
which now was as follows: 

FIRST BRIGADE. 

Seventy-ninth New York, Captain Montgomery. 
Twentieth Michigan, .Major Cutcheon. 
Thirty-sixth Massachusetts, Major Draper. 
Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Hills. 
(g) This continued our organization until we reached Annapolis, April 7, 
[864. There a new deal was made all around, and the Twentieth got 
separated from most of our old comrades. We now became again the 

SECOND PKIC.ADE, 

Colonel B. C. Christ commanding, as follows: 

First Michigan Sharpshooters, Colonel C. V. De Land. 

Twentieth Michigan, Colonel B. M. Cutcheon. 

Seventy-ninth New York, Colonel D. Morrison. 

Sixtieth Ohio, Colonel J. C. McElroy. 

Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Overton, 
(h) May 9, Colonel Christ was disabled, and for two days we were under 

Colonel Hartranft. 
(i ) May 12, the Seventy-ninth New York mustered out, and the Second 

Michigan was assigned to the brigade. Colonel Humphrey now took 

command until Colonel Christ returned, about May 24. The Second 

Michigan was then returned to the First Brigade. 
(J ) J»ne 19, the Second Michigan was again transferred to the Second 

Brigade, Colonel Christ having been wounded on the 18th of June. 

The Brigade was now 



!8o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



THE SECOND BRIGADE, 

Colonel William Humphrey commanding, and consisted of the follow- 
ing regiments : 
First Michigan Sharpshooters, Colonel De Land. 
Second Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel March. 
Twentieth Michigan, Colonel Cutcheon. 
Forty-sixth New York, Captain Alphonse Servier. 

Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel W. C. Newberry. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Overton. 
Sixtieth Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel M. P. Avery. 

October 13, Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry attached. October 18, Twenty- 
fourth New York Cavalry detached from the brigade, 
(k) December 1, 1864, Second Brigade, Colonel B. M. Cutcheon, command- 
ing, was as follows : 

First Michigan Sharpshooters, Captain Murdock. 
Second Michigan Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel March. 
Twentieth Michigan Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Grant. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Captain Brumm. 
Sixtieth Ohio, Major Avery. 
Forty-sixth New York, Captain A. Becker. 
Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry. Major Russell. 
(1 ) On December 15. the Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry was detached, and the 
brigade then remained unchanged to the close of hostilities. 

It will be seen, therefore, that the Twentieth Michigan was at various times 
brigaded with the following named regiments: 

Twenty-eighth Massachusetts. One Hundredth Pennsylvania 

Thirty-sixth Massachusetts. Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry. 

Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry. Sixtieth Ohio Infantry. 

Forty-sixth New York Infantry. Second Michigan. 

Seventy-ninth New York Infantry. Eighth Michigan. 

Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. Seventeenth Michigan. 

Fiftieth Pennsylvania. First Michigan Sharpshooters. 

But our most constant companions were the Second and Seventeenth Michi- 
gan and Fiftieth Pennsylvania. 

While we were for a time, when we first joined in 1862. in the First Brigade, 
and again for a brief period in East Tennessee, yet our regular designation was 
the Second Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. 

Willcox's Division during the period of our service with it. at various times 
embraced the following regiments : 

The First Michigan Sharpshooters, Second, Eighth, Seventeenth, Twentieth and 
Twenty-seventh Michigan Infantry, the Forty-fifth, Fiftieth, One Hundredth and 
Fifty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Forty-sixth, Seventy-ninth and One 
Hundred and Ninth New York Volunteers, the Fourteenth New York Heavy 



ORGANIZATIONS 181 



Artillery and Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry (dismounted), the Twenty- 
ninth, Thirty-sixth, Fifty-seventh and Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers, the 
Twenty-seventh New Jersey (for a short time at Fredericksburg), the Sixtieth 
Ohio and Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry (dismounted), the Thirty-seventh and Thir- 
ty-eighth Wisconsin and the Third Maryland (four companies). 

Of these, the most constant quantity was the six Michigan regiments, the 
Forty-fifth, Fiftieth and One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Forty-sixth, Seventy- 
ninth and One Hundred and Ninth New York, the Twenty-ninth and Thirty- 
sixth Massachusetts. — the Fifty-first Pennsylvania belonged during the campaign 
of 1864-65. The Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry was attached in June, 1864, 
and detached in October, 1864; the Fifty-seventh and Fifty-ninth Massachusetts 
were assigned to the division in September, 1864, when the old Ledlie division 
was broken up. 

The Third Maryland, the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts and the Fourteenth 
New York Heavy Artillery came at the same time. The Twenty-seventh New 
Jersey was a nine months' regiment which joined shortly before the battle of 
Fredericksburg and mustered out July, '63. The Thirty-seventh and Thirty- 
eighth Wisconsin joined about June, '64, and remained to the close of the war. 

In the preparation of our Story of the Twentieth Michigan Regiment, I have 
relied first of all upon my own memory and letters written by me at the time, and 
upon written memoranda and reports made soon after the events. 

Second. I have compared with constant care the official reports as published 
by the government in the "Official Records of Union and Confederate Armies." 

Third, The reports of the adjutant general of the State of Michigan, 1862 
to 1866. 

Fourth, Numerous historical works, especially "The Campaigns of the Civil 
War," published by Scribners, and particularly the work of General A. A. 
Humphreys, on the Virginia campaigns of 1864 and 1865. 

Fifth, "Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," published by the Century Com- 
pany. Memoirs of Generals Grant, Sherman and Sheridan. "Campaigning 
with Grant," by General Horace Porter; "Fox's Regimental Losses of the Civil 
War." I have in addition had the perusal of a large number of letters, diaries 
and memoranda made by various officers and men of the regiment, and placed 
in my hands for use by Lieutenant Charles W. Maynard. Among these, I have 
found most useful the diary of Captain McColIum up to the time of his death, 
and after that of Sergeant, afterwards Sergeant Major, George B. Arnold. 

Sixth, Extensive correspondence with many of the surviving officers of the 
regiment. 

Seventh, Manuscript memoranda made by me soon after the war and official 
documents in my hands. 



APPENDIX "A. 



FREDERICKSBURG CAMPAIGN, 1862. 



I. Report of Brigadier General 0. B. Willcox. 
II. Report of Brigadier General W. W. Burns. 

(Official Record, Vol. XXI, page 310.) 



REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL ORLANDO B. WILLCOX. U. S. 
ARMY, COMMANDING NINTH ARMY CORPS. 

Headquarters Ninth Army Corps, 
Opposite Fredericksburg. Va., January 7, 1863. 
********** 

The Forty-sixth Regiment, New York Volunteers, Lieutenant Joseph Gerhardt, 
of General William W. Burns' division, was the first to cross the bridge. Haw- 
kins' brigade, of Getty's division, also crossed the same evening and * * * 
occupied the town that night. The remainder of my corps * * * crossed the 
next day (the 12th), immediately after the Second Corps. 

On the next morning (the 13th), I was ordered by Major General Sumner 
to extend my left over Hazel Run to Deep Run, and to form the corps in three 
lines, with batteries in suitable positions, connecting on the right with the 
Second Corps (General Couch) and on the left with General Franklin. 
********** 

Accordingly, Brigadier General S. D. Sturgis' division was placed nearest to 
Couch's corps. Burns' division nearest to Franklin's, and between Deep and 
Hazel Runs, and Getty's division between Sturgis' and Burns'. 
********** 

General Burns crossed Deep Run, in support of General Franklin's command, 
at 3 p. m. General Getty's division was held, both as a reserve and as a corps 
of observation, to watch the communications of the center, and guard the left 
of the town. 
********** 

In pursuance of orders from General Burnside, Burns' division recrossed 
Hazel Run next morning, and this corps was then selected to make the main 
attack. It was formed accordingly. Captain Weed had also selected positions 



APPENDIX 183 

for six batteries to support the movement, and placed several in position, when 
the order was suspended, and finally countermanded. 

********** 
I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

O. B. WILLCOX, 
Brigadier General, Commanding. 

Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Taylor, 

Assistant Adjutant General, Hdqrs., Right Grand Division. 



REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL WILLIAM W. BURNS, U. S. 
ARMY, COMMANDING FIRST DIVISION. 

Headquarters Burns' Division, 
Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., December 17, 1862. 
I have the honor to report the operations of my division on December 12, 13, 

14 and 15. 

On the evening of the nth, the Forty-sixth New York, Lieutenant Colonel 
Gerhardt, crossed Bridge No. 3 as fast as the planks were laid down, and re- 
mained on picket duty in Fredericksburg during the night. I crossed the same 
bridge with the division about 9 o'clock on the 12th. 

On the morning of the 13th, I was directed to move my division across Hazel 
Run, and connect my left with General Franklin's right at Deep Run. and hold 
myself subject to the orders of General Franklin if called upon. 

About 3 o'clock I received an order from General Franklin to cross Deep Run 
and cover his bridges. I reported to General Franklin by authority of General 
Willcox, and remained during the night. 

I received an order from General Franklin on the morning of the 14th to re- 
cross Deep Run and report to General Willcox, who directed me to form my 
division on the left bank of Hazel Run, preparatory to moving on the enemy at 
10 o'clock. 

I recrossed the Rappahannock on the 15th. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

W. W. BURNS, 
Brigadier General, Commanding. 
Captain Robert A. Hutchins, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 



APPENDIX " B." 



HORSESHOE BEND CAMPAIGN, 1863. 

I. Report of Colonel David Morrison, Commanding Brigade. 
II. Report of Colonel Richard T. Jacob, Commanding Provisional Brigade. 

III. Report of Lieutenant Colonel W. Huntington Smith, Commanding Regi- 

ment. 

IV. Report of Captain W. D. Wiltsie, Commanding Scouting Party. 

V. Extract from Diary of Lieutenant Walter McCollum, Commanding part of 
Twentieth Michigan Detail. 
VI. Extract from Report of Brigadier General John H. Morgan, Commanding 
Confederate Force. 



REPORT OF COLONEL DAVID MORRISON. SEVENTY-NINTH NEW 

YORK INFANTRY, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST 

DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS. 

Hdqrs. First Brig., First Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
Columbia, Ky., May 21, 1863. 

Captain — * * * I have the honor to forward * * * a report by Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Smith, commanding Twentieth Michigan, of a fight between his 
command and Morgan's men, beyond the Cumberland. 

It gives me great pleasure to report the gallant conduct of the Twentieth 
Michigan in the late fight at the Narrows. Both officers and men have earned 
for themselves a splendid reputation. 

Although they were under fire about eight hours, and all of that time engaged 
by a vastly superior force of the enemy, the loss of the Twentieth was less than 
30 in killed, wounded and missing. 

There were several regiments of the rebels engaged, and one of them in par- 
ticular lost in killed and wounded, 150 men. This I have from undoubted author- 
ity. I can only account for the comparatively small loss of the Twentieth by the 
superior position which that regiment occupied, and by the advantage which was 
taken of that position. The brigade has been anxiously awaiting the advent of 
the gallent general, John (H.) Morgan, who has said he will burn this place. * 
* * Morgan has about 6,000 men, with seven field pieces. 



APPENDIX l8 5 



I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

DAVID MORRISON, 
Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 

Captain George A. Hicks, 

Assistant Adjutant General, First Division. 



REPORT OF COLONEL RICHARD T. JACOB, NINTH KENTUCKY 
CAVALRY, COMMANDING BRIGADE. 

Columbia, Ky., May 12, 1863. 
Sir— In accordance with an order received from you, with parts of the Ninth, 
Eleventh and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, I marched by the way of Jamestown 
and the mouth of Greasy Creek, to the Cumberland River, to create a diversion 
in favor of Brigadier General Carter, who was to have crossed the Cumberland 
at Waitsborough and Mill Springs to Monticello at daylight of the same day, 

Monday, April 27. * * * _, ^ 

On Tuesday the 28th, I took possession of the Narrows of Horseshoe Bottom, 
a very strong position, driving out the enemy's pickets. I had nearly crossed my 
whole force when I received information that the enemy were crossing a force 
at Rowens to try and flank us. I recrossed a battalion to prevent such a move- 
ment, and sent scouts to ascertain the truth of the report. 

On Thursday, April 30, I received information from Brigadier General Carter 
that he would cross the river and march to Monticello. 

On the same day I was reinforced by the Twentieth Michigan Infantry and two 
pieces of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Battery. 



On Friday, May 1, at 10 o'clock, with my whole command, I gave orders at 
once to cross. The Cumberland had now become unfordable and I had to swim 
the horses that were on the north side, including the crossing of artillery and 

infantry. 

By 12 p m. I had crossed my whole force. Leaving camp at an early hour, 
I arrived by 2 o'clock with my command at Monticello. Brigadier General 
Carter had arrived the evening before, after first defeating the enemy. Though 
too late to aid in the fight, I learned from Colonel Wolford that we had com- 
pletely deceived the enemy, making them believe that the real force was with us 
and the feint from them, thus giving ample time to cross, while the enemy was 
distracted, without demonstration. 

On Monday, May 4, all the cavalry at Monticello under command of Colonel 
Wolford pursued the enemy. Finding that he had crossed the mountains, we re- 
turned. 

On the next day I was ordered to return by way of Jamestown. 

On Wednesday, May 6, I commenced recrossing the Cumberland, which was 
now very high from heavy rains. With only one small, half-rotten boat, that 
would transport only five horses at a time, I found it tedious to cross. 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



I was all Thursday and Friday swimming horses, crossing wagons, etc. 

On Saturday morning, crossed artillery. Hearing of a desperate band of 
guerrillas, and finding a guide who knew of their whereabouts, some eight miles 
from the river, and having the infantry (unemployed; to cover the crossing of 
the cavalry, artillery, etc., I determined to send a strong party of ioo men against 
them, believing I would do a good service by breaking up the band. I sent the 
party under command of Captain Wiltsie, of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, 
assisted by Captain Wilson, with his Company (M), Twelfth Kentucky Cav- 
alry, and Captain Searcy and his Company (L), Ninth Kentucky Cavalry; in 
all, amounting to 104 men. They arrived at their destination Saturday morn- 
ing and seized some twelve desperate men. 

About 2 p. m. they were charged by a body of cavalry numbering some 250 
or 300 men, which proved to be Major General Morgan's advance guard. Our 
men fell back in two parties, one down the big road toward the Narrows, and 
the other, under Captain Wiltsie and 49 men toward the river. The first party 
got to the Narrows about sunset, after some fighting, losing one officer wounded 
and taken prisoner and two men killed. 

Captain Wiltsie's party were repeatedly charged and never fell back in front 
until about to be surrounded, when they would fall back and take a new posi- 
tion. Three times they charged the enemy ?.nd drove them. Captain (Joseph) 
Chenault, two lieutenants, four sergeants, and not less than twenty-five or thirty 
men of the enemy were killed and wounded. I heard of this about 5 p. m., and 
immediately crossed the river with most of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, 
and sent word to Lieutenant Colonel Boyle, commanding the Ninth Kentucky 
Cavalry, and Lieutenant Colonel Holeman, commanding the Twelfth Kentucky 
Cavalry, to come over at once with two battalions, leaving the rest to guard the 
horses each of their respective commands. 

Lieutenant Boyle thought best (which I sanctioned), as he heard that the 
enemy was crossing at Rowena, not to come over. * * * 

At daylight I visited with Lieutenant Colonel Holeman, Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith, of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, and Major Rue, volunteer aide 
from the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, and others, the advance pickets. 

On Sunday, the 10th, at 8 a. m., the enemy drove in the advance picket. I 
ordered the men to cover themselves as well as possible and fire slowly and de- 
liberately, we occupying a strong position in the Narrows of Horseshoe Bottom. 
This continued some four hours, when I ordered one piece of cannon to be 
crossed over the river, being determined to discover the numbers and intention 
of the enemy. The other piece I ordered to the top of a hill on the other side 
of the river, in order to cover our retreat if it became necessary; also, all men 
on the north side of the river, to be held in readiness to secure the same thing. 

At 3:15 o'clock, after seven hours and fifteen minutes skirmishing, I got one 
piece of artillery in position. I then massed most of the Twentieth Michigan 
Infantry and one battalion of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry (dismounted) and 
armed with carbines, and ordered when the cannon opened on the enemy to 
charge them. The fight instantly became terrific. Our men, led by their gallant 
officers, charged on a house and lot by which the enemy were covered, and car- 



APPENDIX 187 



ried everything before them. Finding the enemy had made a fortress of the 
house, I had it shelled. It became a hand-to-hand contest, and we drove them 
gallantly over a quarter of a mile, when Morgan arrived with seven fresh regi- 
ments, but fortunately, his battery still behind, and immediately precipitated them 
upon us. Before the overwhelming mass, of at least ten to one, our men had to 
retire from the open field to the cover of the timber in the Narrows. It was 
then that the one piece of artillery was of signal service. The enemy advanced, 
not in line, but in masses, and I had shell after shell thrown into their midst, 
until they scattered in every direction. 

The men being exhausted, some having been in two days' fight with nothing to 
eat since the day before, and convinced of the overwhelming force of the enemy, 
and having fought ten times our number for forty-five minutes, I determined 
to retreat. We quietly did so, retiring the 450 men who had been in the fight, 
and advancing the reserve of 125 men of dismounted Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, 
under command of Captain Harrison. The men marched deliberately and in 
the best order to the river, three miles distant. 

I retired with the men, to bend every effort to have them crossed as rapidly as 
possible. While doing so, a messenger, Lieutenant Colonel Holeman, came in 
and informed me that Captain (William J.) Davis, Major General Morgan's 
adjutant general, had come in under flag of truce, to demand my unconditional 
surrender. 

I sent word back by Lieutenant Colonel Holeman, that 1 would never sur- 
render while there was a shot in the locker. In the meantime, Morgan becoming 
•inpatient, withdrew his flag of truce, and said he would move directly upon our 
lines. Captain Harrison, commanding reserve of 125 men, sent him word to let 
himself in. 

Lieutenant Colonel Boyle, who had come up during the fight, conducted the 
retreat of the reserve * * * with marked ability, judgment and coolness. * * 
Leaving three men, an advance picket — who were within conversational distance 
of the enemy's picket — as a sacrifice, he quietly withdrew. * * * The cannon 
with the horses had previously been crossed and put in position to secure re- 
treat. The three pickets of Company B, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, under 
charge of Sergeant (Joseph W.) Dexter * * * succeeded in making good 
their escape. 

Where every one, from the highest officer under command, to the humblest 
pri'vate, behaved with the most distinguished gallantry, it may appear invidious 
to mention names. I will, however, mention such as came under my immediate 
observation. Lieutenant Colonel Holeman, commanding the charge, being rank- 
ing officer, and commander of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, cheered the men 
on to their work of death, and wherever +he fight was most dangerous, there 
he could be found. * * * Lieutenant Colonel Smith, commanding the Twen- 
tieth Michigan Infantry, executed his orders promptly and with great coolness 
and bravery. Major Byron M. Cutcheon led the Twentieth Michigan Infantry 
in the charge, and behaved with great gallantry. * * * Captain Frank Por- 
ter, of the Twentieth Michigan, captured a prisoner and secured him in the 
thickest of the fight. Major Delfosse of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry * * * 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



behaved with the utmost bravery, as did also Captain Grant, of the Twentieth 
Michigan. Captain Sims worked his gun with great skill. Lieutenant H. W. 
Shafer did the most rapid and accurate firing, carrying death and destruction 
to the enemy. 

If there was any cowardice, I did not see or hear of it. The men of Michi- 
gan, Indiana and Kentucky vied with each other in daring deeds, and men never 
fought better. Captains Wiltsie, Wilson, Allen and Searcy, I am informed, 
fought with great skill and bravery in Saturday's fight. 

Dr. (S. B.) Littlepage of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, Dr. (W. W.) Payne, 
of the Twentieth Michigan, and Dr. (W.) Bailey, of the Ninth Kentucky Cav- 
alry, were earnest in their efforts to attend to the sufferings of the wounded. 

The killed, wounded and missing of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, is 26 
in both fights; of the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, 10; the Ninth Kentucky Cav- 
alry (not in Sunday's fight) lost 6 in the Saturday's. I do not know the loss of 
the enemy, but I think it very heavy. We bad 450 men in the fight, and fought 
Major General Morgan, with nine regiments, for forty-five minutes, and then 
crossed the Deep River with only one small boat, a few canoes and a half 
broken, half-sunken gunnel, floored, and half a foot of water on it. The enemy 
did not follow us. 

No one, not knowing the topography of the country and the situation of our 
respective forces, can appreciate the difficulties of our position and the success 
of our retreat. 

By your order, we have fallen back here; also by your order, I respectfully 
submit the report of the expedition, of the trip to Monticello, and the fights of 

Saturday and Sunday. 

Respectfully, 

RICHARD T JACOB, 
Brigadier General Manson, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 

Lebanon, Ky. 



APPENDA. 

General— Since writing the above report, a citizen, whose veracity is vouched 
for, and who lives in the neighborhood of the battle-ground, says, to his own 
personal knowledge, there were over 100 of the enemy buried. Estimating the 
wounded in the small proportion of three to one, we would have 300, or a total 
of 400, and within 50 of being equal to all we had in the fight. 

Respectfully, 

RICHARD T. JACOB, 
Brigadier General Manson. Colonel Commanding Brigade. 



APPENDIX i*) 



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL W. HUNTINGTON SMITH, 
TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY. 

Headquarters, Twentieth Michigan Infantry, 
Columbia, Ky., May 12, 1863. 

Colonel— I hereby submit to you my report of the duties performed by this 
regiment from Tuesday, April 28, to May 12, 1863, inclusive, being the time we 
were detached from the brigade, which is as follow? : 

Tuesday, April 28— Agreeably to your orders of this date, I marched from the 
brigade at Green River toward Columbia, where it was intended we should do 
provost duty, protecting citizens and property, and arresting all armed citizens, 
and report to your headquarters. Having already marched about twelve miles, 
I continued on the road for about two and one-half miles, when I halted for the 

night. 

Wednesday, April 29.— At about 2 a. m., I received your order of this date 
(1 a. m.), in which we were instructed to leave at Columbia our teams and 
knapsacks; to proceed from there in light marching order, with three days' 
rations, to Greasy Creek, by way of Jamestown, to reinforce Colonel Jacob, and to 
be accompanied by Captain Sims' battery. I was to move by forced marches and 
to march by daybreak. I marched by 6 o'clock, arriving at Columbia at 10 a. m., 
a distance of ten miles. At Columbia we stored our baggage, knapsacks, etc., 
getting dinner and providing the rations, marching at 2 p. m., making ten miles. 
We bivouacked for the night. 

Thursday, April 30— Marched at 7 a. m., after first having mustered the regi- 
ment for pay. Arrived at Jamestown at 1 p. m., distance, eight miles. Passing 
through this place, I marched directly to the top of the bluff, at the ferry over the 
Cumberland River, at the mouth of Greasy Creek, arrived at about 4 o'clock; dis- 
tance, five miles. 

Friday, May 1— Remained on the bluff until afternoon, when at 2:30 p. m., 
I received the following order : 

Camp at Mouth of Greasy Creek, 

, 1863. 

Lieutenant Colonel Smith. 

Commanding Twentieth Michigan Volunteers: 
Sir— I have just been ordered at once with the whole command to the support 
of General Carter. You will march your men immediately down the hill to the 
ferry landing. Please inform Captain Sims to move down the battery. 

RICHARD T. JACOB, 

Colonel Commanding. 

At 3 o'clock my command was in motion down the hill to the ferry, and was 
detained there until about 9 o'clock in the evening before receiving the boat to 
carry my men over, all of which, however, we succeeded in accomplishing at 



igo TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

about i o'clock in the morning. Moving forward about two miles into the Nar- 
rows, we bivouacked for the night. 

Saturday, May 2 — Marched at 7 .30 o'clock for Monticello, passing through a 
thickly wooded and uneven country. Arrived there at 3 .30 p. m., a distance of 
thirteen miles. The enemy had been driven out the preceding afternoon by Gen- 
eral Carter. 

Sunday, May 3 — Remained quiet all day. 

Monday, May 4 — Continued in camp. 

Tuesday, May 5 — Received orders to march back to the ferry on the Cumber- 
land ; at the mouth of Greasy Creek at 10 o'clock, and marched at 11 o'clock 
through a most drenching storm of rain and over roads ankle-deep with mud. 
Arrived at the commencement of the Narrows at about 5 p. m., having marched 
eleven miles. Here we encamped for the night. 

Wednesday, May 6 — Marched this morning at 6 o'clock down to the river, 
but were ordered to wait and cross over last, the cavalry having arrived and 
occupied the boat during the day. 

Thursday, May 7 — Waited all clay for crossing. 

Friday, May 8 — Waited all day for crossing. 

Saturday, May 9 — The artillery commenced crossing. 

At 10 o'clock on the evening of the 8th, Colonel Jacob sent out a scouting party 
of 100 men, under command of Captain W. D. Wiltsie, of my regiment, for the 
purpose of breaking up a band of guerrillas near the distillery at Alcorn's, of 
which number I furnished 60 men, with instructions to return to the regiment by 
12 m., Saturday. For full particulars of the doings of this party, I refer to Cap- 
tain Wiltsie's report, attached. 

The same night I sent out Captain Barnes with his command about two miles 
to the farther end of the Narrows as a support to the scouting party, we already 
having two companies (A and D) on picket at this end of the Narrows. 

At 3 p. m. of Saturday I had all of my men over the river except those of the 
scouting party and the Companies (A, C and D) on picket duty. These com- 
panies were ordered to fall back to the river as soon as the party returned. 

At 4 o'clock word came that our pickets were being attacked, and I immediately 
communicated the same to Colonel Jacob, who had crossed the river. Also or- 
dered a detachment of 100 men from my regiment to recross the river, which 
was quickly done. Major Cutcheon, in the meantime, went to the front to see 
the men already there, taking the scattered forces of Grant, Allen, Dewey and 
Carpenter, and placing them on a commanding position, on the top of a hill. 
Captain Barnes, with his men, advanced down the road about two miles on the 
first intimation of the attack, which was a great support to Captains Allen and 
Carpenter, with each a few men as they had been cut off from Captain Wiltsie 
and his party, but fighting their way back most manfully. Captain Barnes then 
returned to his original position, holding everything quiet for the night except 
a slight cavalry attack upon his pickets, which was easily repulsed with the 
assistance of such as had been sent to him from our own regiment and from 
the Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry. 

At about 8 a. m. the enemy vigorously attacked our pickets with dismounted 



APPENDIX 191 



cavalry, and after a brisk resistance for fifteen minutes, drove them in upon the 
main line. I immediately brought forward Companies F, G and I, which were 
in reserve, and established the line as follows : Company F was deployed as 
skirmishers along a wooded ravine on the right, to prevent that flank from being 
turned. Companies C and K were massed behind the crest of a small hill to 
the right of the main road, while Companies A and D were massed in a similar 
manner behind a fence on the crest of a high hill to the left. These were to hold 
the road and prevent a cavalry dash. Companies B and E held the continuation 
of the fence to the left, and the extreme left was held by a battalion of the 
Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, dismounted. Companies I and G were in reserve at 
the foot of the hill in the rear of the center. 

At about 4 p. m. one piece of Captain Sims' (Twenty-fourth Indiana) battery 
arrived upon the ground and took position on an eminence on the extreme left. 
Companies B, I and G were ordered forward to support the gun. The gun imme- 
diately opened a rapid and well-directed fire upon the house, orchard and woods, 
in which the rebels were massed. At the same time a charge was ordered along 
the whole line, which was executed in a most gallant manner, clearing the enemy 
from the house, orchard and fences, where they had lain during the day, and 
driving them into the woods. We were soon met by a counter-charge in such 
immensely superior numbers that we were obliged to fall back to our former 
position, which was held with the greatest obstinacy for three-fourths of an hour, 
when the men being exhausted with the unequal contest and the long abstinence 
from food and sleep, it was deemed prudent to withdraw to the north side of 
the Cumberland, which was done without loss or accident. 

I take great pleasure in saying that there was not a company of this regiment 
but conducted itself in a brave and courageous manner, and all seemed over- 
anxious to be the first in and last out of the fight. We crossed the river without 
confusion or accident, completing the same by 7 o'clock, and bivouacked for the 
night on a bluff commanding the ferry. 

Monday, May 11— At 11 a. m., I received orders to move back to Columbia, 
and commenced doing so at 12 m., under a very hot sun. Marched thirteen miles 
and bivouacked for the night. On the way we met the Seventeenth Michigan 
coming to our aid. 

Tuesday, May 12— Marched at 6 o'clock, arriving at Columbia at 10:30 a. m. 
Here we joined our brigade, and received our camp equipment and baggage. 

I have to report, with regret, the loss of several excellent officers during the 
skirmish of Saturday and the fight of Sunday, consisting of Lieutenant W. M. 
Greene, of Company A, killed on Sunday, (he was an officer highly esteemed 
by his men and much respected by his associate officers) ; also Lieutenant Clement 
A. Lounsberry, of Company I, wounded severely in the thigh on Saturday, while 
returning to the regiment from the party of scouts ; and Lieutenant H. V. Knight, 
of Company H, taken prisoner with several soldiers of the scouting party. 

I append a list of the casualties that occurred as follows: Killed, 4; wounded, 
18; missing, 6; total, 28. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 

W. HUNTINGTON SMITH, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Regiment. 



i 9 2 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Colonel D. Morrison, 

Commanding First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Corps : 

Colonel — Being in haste at the time of concluding my official report of the 
affairs of Saturday and Sunday, the 9th and 10th instants, I neglected to speak 
as I should have done of the conduct of the officers of my regiment. Where all 
were cool and active it is almost impossible to specify particular instances. I 
cannot refrain, however, from mentioning the names of Captain Barnes, Grant, 
Wiltsie, Allen, Dewey, Carpenter and Porter, and of Lieutenant Bullis ; also 
Major Cutcheon, for his bravery, daring, and activity in the discharge of his 
duties. All deserve mention, but these attracted my attention in particular. All 
the officers and men vied with each other in their efforts to merit well of their 
country and of their commander. 

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 

W. HUNTINGTON SMITH, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Volunteers. 
Colonel D. Morrison, Commanding Brigade. 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN WENDELL D. WILTSIE, TWENTIETH MICH- 
IGAN INFANTRY. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXIII, Part 1, Page 307) • 

Camp at Green's Ferry, 
Cumberland River, Ky., May II, 1863. 

Sir — I have the honor to report that, on the 8th instant, I received orders from 
Colonel Jacob, commanding at' this post, to proceed, with a force of 100 men, 
to where a band of guerrillas under the notorious (Champ.) Ferguson were 
supposed to be lurking in the mountains between here and Monticello, and if 
possible, to discover and break it up. I accordingly took 25 men of my own 
company (H), under Lieutenant McCollum ; 30 from Companies B, F, G, I and 
K, all picked men, under Ca'ptain Allen; a company of 28 men under Captain 
Searcy, of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, and a company of Henry Rifles (27) 
under Captain Wilson, Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, all dismounted, and moved 
from the river at 9 p. m. 

At the Narrows, where Captain Barnes was stationed with his company as a 
reserve force, I left the Monticello road on our right, and proceeded by mountain 
paths to Harmon's Creek, thence back to the road at Alcorn's, which is nine 
miles from the ferry and seven from Monticello. From here we proceeded south 
to Beaver Creek, and returned to Alcorn's at 2 p. m. of Saturday, the 9th in- 
stant, not ha'ving met any armed force, but capturing in all twelve prisoners and 
five horses, supposed to belong to the band we were in search of, and burning 
Alcorn's distillery, which was a lurking place for bushwhackers. Here we rested 
for dinner, the men being very much exhausted, having been almost continually 
on the march from the time we started over steep mountains — difficult both in 



APPENDIX 1 93 



ascent and descent— through creeks and ravines, with wet feet and without food 
or sleep. 

My first instructions were to return to camp by 12 m. Saturday, but finding that 
I had been greatly deceived in the distance I was to make, and that it was impos- 
sible to do any important part of the work alloted me, I early in the morning 
dispatched a messenger to Colonel Jacob, to inform him of what I had already 
done, and to ask an extension of time until 4 p. m., when, if not prevented by an 
enemy, I would arrive in camp. Colonel Jacob granted my request, and I pro- 
ceeded to complete my task. When my messenger returned, I should not fail to 
state that he informed me that rebel cavalry had been seen on the road between 
me and the reserve at the Narrows. I immediately took the precaution to send 
Captain Carpenter, with 24 men, back two miles on the main road to a cross-road, 
to be within striking distance, should Captain Allen, who had gone a short dis- 
tance back in the mountains with nine men to examine a ravine and rock house, be 
attacked, and at the same time to keep a strict watch over the roads. 

We had not rested at Alcorn's more than half an hour, when my pickets toward 
Monticello were furiously attacked by rebel cavalry, whom we at first supposed 
to be guerrillas, but who were Morgan's advance guard of 300 men. They dis- 
mounted instantly upon receiving the first fire, and attempted to surround us un- 
der cover of the woods. Upon hearing the alarm shots, I immediately threw 
Company H into the road with fixed bayonets, and the cavalry under Captain 
Wilson forward to the support of the pickets, while Lieutenant Knight, with six 
men, were left to guard the prisoners, all of whom were probably taken pris- 
oners before getting away from Alcorn's house. I very soon discovered that, 
while I could keep the enemy from advancing in front, my force was too small, 
having only about 40 men present, to keep him back on the flanks, and that I 
would certainly be surrounded if I did not hastily retire. 

I accordingly fell back through their linos, and brought them by doing so, 
immediately in our front again. We were pressed so hotly from the onset by 
such superior numbers that it was impossible to take our prisoners to the rear, 
so they all escaped except one, who was taken along by Captain Carpenter, and 
we only brought in two of the horses. When we gained the cover of the woods 
on the north side of the road we made a stand, and, though the "Butternuts" 
outnumbered us eight to one, and came down shouting, "Give the Yankee sons of 
b— — s no quarter," they could not drive us from our position, except as they were 
about to flank us. We repeatedly drove them, and at one charge, the last we 
made, swept therrr clean from the woods. 

At this period they retired to remount, leaving only a few skirmishers to harass 
us. Finding my men suffering from excessive thirst and great exhaustion, I or- 
dered them to fall back, which they did in good order, to a strong and safe 
position, where we rested until midnight. Having lost my guide and not being 
familiar with the country, I found great difficulty in getting out to the road. 
About daylight, however, we struck a mountain road, which, from its course, 
I judged would lead us out of the wilderness, and which we followed until we 
discovered in the path before us about 50 soldiers, whom we knew, from their 
peculiar dress, were rebel soldiers. Being too weak to engage them, we returned 
13 



194 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

and retreated to the river, where we found a raft, embarked, cut it loose and 
floated down to the ferry, reaching camp at 4 p. m., having been out forty-three 
hours. 

Upon hearing guns Captain Carpenter immediately started to my assistance, 
but was met on the way by rebel cavalry, which he gallantly repulsed. Deeming 
it impossible to reinforce me, however, he fell back on the road until met by 
Captains Barnes and Allen. Upon consultation it was deemed prudent for Cap- 
tain Barnes to fall rapidly back and hold the Narrows, while Captain Allen, with 
his whole detachment would fall back leisurely. Before Captain Allen reached 
the reserve post, the rebel cavalry dashed down upon him in great force, but 
were unable to rout him. He was compelled, however, to fall back, which he did 
in good order until he reached the reserve, the rebels not caring to press very 
hard after him. 

In the last engagement Captain Allen lost one man killed, one officer (Lieuten- 
ant C. A. Lounsberry) wounded and prisoner, and one missing. In the first en- 
counter Lieutenant McCollum lost one killed and Lieutenant Knight and one 
man taken prisoner and one missing. The companies of Kentucky cavalry lost 
two killed, one wounded and six missing. 

I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of both officers and men engaged in 
this terribly unequal strife. That 40 men held 300 at bay for over two hours and 
finally drove them back, or that 30 should repulse 250, shows with what deter- 
mined bravery they stood, and with what desperate energy they fought. While 
I must speak of the conduct of all in terms of highest praise, 1 am forced 
by conviction of what appears to me to be largely his due, to mention the name 
of Sergeant A. A. Day, Company H, who stood foremost in the fight, where 
bullets rained through the whole of the engagement. Allow me, sir, to recom- 
mend him to your favorable notice. 

During the whole engagement at Alcorn's, I was nobly supported by Captain 
Wilson, of the Henry Rifles (Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry) and Captain Searcy, 
of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, both of whom were heroes in the fight. The 
enemy reports a large number killed and wounded in the engagement of Satur- 
day, and among the killed a number of valuable officers. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient and humble servant, 

W. D. WILTSIE, 
Captain, Commanding Scouting Party. 
Lieutenant Colonel William H. Smith. 

Commanding Twentieth Regiment, Michigan Volunteers. 



EXTRACT FROM THE DIARY OF LIEUTENANT WALTER McCOL- 

LUM, COMPANY H, TWENTIETH MICHIGAN, CONTAINING 

RECORD OF THE SCOUTING PARTY MAY qth AND ioth, 

1863. 

May 8 — The cavalry is still crossing. At 9 p. m., a scouting party of 103 men 
under Captain Wiltsie went out on a scout in the direction of Monticello, for the 



APPENDIX 195 



purpose of breaking up a band of resident guerrillas or "bushwhackers," reported 
to be in the vicinity of a distillery owned by a man named Alcorn. The party 
was composed as follows : 25 men from Company H, 30 from other companies 
and about 50 Henry Rifles from the Ninth and Twelfth Kentucky Cavalry, un- 
der Captains Wilson and Searcy. Officers in all were Captains Wiltsie, Allen, 
Carpenter and Montgomery. Lieutenants McCollum, Lounsberry and Knight 
from the Twentieth Michigan. The two above named cavalry captains, and 
Lieutenants Bullis and Lippencott of the cavalry. The party went four miles on 
the main road from the mouth of Greasy Creek to Monticello, to the residence 
of Wesley Coffey, where the whole party, under the lead of two guides, turned to 
the left and went about two miles to the house of a man named William Dean. 
Here the cavalry proceeded to take the distillery at Alcorn's on the main road, 
while the detachment from the Twentieth Michigan went to Harmon's Creek 
for the purpose of arresting some who were supposed to be "bushwhackers."- By 
daylight, two were taken, named Alcorn. 

May 9 — The party reached the main road at daylight at the house of the 
Alcorns' father, which place was seven miles from Monticello and nine miles 
from camp. After breakfast the cavalry, under Captain Wilson, went three and 
one-half miles after some more supposed guerrillas of whom we took seven, 
returning at 2 p. m. In the meantime, Captains Allen and Carpenter went on 
another scout and got back to the main road about one and one-half miles to- 
ward camp. At about 2 130 p. m. the two men on picket toward Monticello saw 
the approach of a large body of the enemy's cavalry. The action commenced at 
once. The cavalry of Captain Wilson was ordered down the road to meet them. 
The enemy went to the rear of the house and soon surrounded it and got into the 
road, cutting us off. One of our men came back badly wounded at the outset. 
Company H was formed to prevent their coming clown the road. Being nearly 
surrounded, a break was made for a piece of woods near the house, where the 
fight was continued two hours. Three times the men rallied, at one time driving 
them out of the woods. Corporal Lyons was shot through the lower part of the 
face and neck. Sherman and Stringham received slight wounds. One of the 
cavalry had been wounded in the leg badly and one killed. 

After the firing had partially ceased and a flank movement was evident, the 
company fell back, going down the end of the ridge into the valley, near the resi- 
dence of one of the younger Alcorn's, up the hill and about two miles from the 
scene of the engagement, where we rested until midnight, when we went on 
slowly, until finding the river. 

May 10 — Rested a few hours and started back toward camp. Knew that it was 
difficult as we heard the enemy fighting Captains Allen and Carpenter, who fell 
back to the pickets with loss. Before reaching the top of the hill we saw about 
50 of the enemy in the valley. There being but 22 in our crowd they fell back 
to the river. After vain attempts to build a raft one was found, on which 
attempt was made to cross, but it was impossible to do so as the oars were poor 
and the men weak, so the raft floated down the river, the men expecting every 
moment to be fired into from the bank. The raft lodged in the bushes two 
miles above camp, and at 4 p. m. all got ashore in a canoe. The regiment had 



ig6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

gone tip to the Narrows and .raged in a fight at the Narrows with a 

superior force of Morg : ciment numbered 290. the whole force, cavalry 

tg goo men. They fell back be: : and recrossed the river. 

The kfl . nded and missing • - - v tenant Knight and one man of 

Company H. and five cavalry were taken prisoners at A The force 

recross 



REP RT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN H. MORGAN. C. 5 ARMY. 
5cial Rec - - V XXIII. Par: i. Pag* j 



Headquar ^an's Division. 

Monricello. May n. 18 

- 

la" - evening of the oth instant. 

On the follow _ rsesboe Bend. Their force 

amounted to between i_200 and 1.500 men and two pieces of artillery. After a 

risk fight ibout an hour and a half. I routed ifeem and drove them across 

: - : unded and prisoners. My own loss 

amounted to about 40 killed and wounded. 
****** < * * * 

which invaded this . a few da; - ;ted of General 

a cavalry brigade, under command of Colonel 
and a brigade of infantr - rafc now occ S nerset, Columbia, 

Car:r e B and Lebanon in force. 

x xx******* 

a sentiments of high regard. General, your obedient servant, 

JOHN H. MORGAN. 

Brigadier General. 
- General S. B 
Commar ; r_- I Toartment of the East fernessec 



APPENDIX "C." 



lMpaign, 1863. 



I- Report eneral John G. Parke. Command: - Corp; 

II. Report of Colonel David Leasure. Commanding Briga 

5cial Records, V : rt 2 a 555 



REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN G. PARK" = ARMY, COM- 

XIXTH ARMY CORJ 

Headq-j 

:863- 
Colonel — : * I have the honor to submit the following rep-: - 

operation troops under my command while s g the Expedition- 

ary Army, commanded by Major General W. T. Sbermai 
ier General Joseph E. Johnson: 
My co mm and tT General 

Tb h commanding; Seconi ndier General 

R. B. Potter commanding, and the First Di. - . Corps, Brigadier 

General Willam Sooy Smith commanding. 

On the fall of Yicksburg and the receipt of orders to mov: force occupied 

the line extending from Oak Ridge Postoffice to Brier; 
General McArthur's command. 
Batteries and - nstrucl - . - ...... 

north and eastward. On the afternoon of the 4 le command m: 

in the direction of Jones' Ford and Bords g; these points ir 

morning of the 51 

^ e found the enemy occupying the opposite bank, and our skirm: - 
immediately engaged. Owing to the configuration of gi nd. and : 

timber, with thick underbru- enabled with a ^mal! force, com- 

:he high bank, tor - men from approaching the ford 

or fording for the purpose of ma a xamination as to depth ntil 

then found that the ford was impract: : . for a 
On the 6th, a lodgn ed on the opp tint of con- 

stant exertion, a bridge was built and the r rinth Corps 

7th- In the meannr oats had bee- -ed. 

ra sed and put in rking - .is means Genera - 

-ed. 



J9 8 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



On the evening of the 7th we moved out from Birdsong Ferry and bivouacked 
at 10 p. m. at Robertson's, adjoining Jeff. Davis' plantation, near Bolton. 

On the afternoon of the 8th we moved on the main road, but finding that we 
came in contact with General Steele's command, we took a side road and, 
making a detour, we again bivouacked at io p. m., within a few miles of Clinton. 
On the 9th we made an early start, but soon came up to the rear of Steele's 
column. Finding that there was but one main road for us north of the railroad 
leading to Jackson, we diverged, and after a good deal of labor, cutting through 
timber, we succeeded in opening a road through the plantations, nearly parallel 
with the main road. Toward sundown we came upon the enemy's cavalry, when 
some skirmishing ensued, in which both the enemy and ourselves used artillery. 
Finding that the head of my column was as far advanced as that of General 
Ord's, we bivouacked and started on the morning of the ioth over a plantation 
road that brought us out on the Livingston and Canton road, five miles north 
of Jackson. 

As we neared Jackson, the enemy's vedettes and pickets were driven in, until 
we approached the insane asylum ridge. This ridge was reported occupied by 
the enemy, both by infantry and artillery. Dispositions were made for taking 
and holding this ridge, it being all important to us in operations against the town 
of Jackson. The enemy retired as our line advanced, and at dark we occupied 
a line at right angles to the Canton road, and extending from near Pearl River 
over to the Livingston road, crossing the railroad. 

On the morning of the nth, the line was advanced, driving the enemy's skir- 
mishers within their entrenchments. 

This line was held by our troops, although a continuous firing was kept up by 
the skirmishers and at intervals by the artillery. 

We found the enemy posted behind a continuous line of rifle-pits, with bat- 
teries at intervals, raking the road and approaches. 

Our men were covered and protected as much as possible and epaulements 
thrown up for our batteries as rapidly as the limited supply of tools would 
admit. 

The enemy made several attempts to drive our skirmishers, but were as often 
repulsed. 

On the i6th an advance of my whole, line was ordered, with the view of ascer- 
taining the strength of the enemy and the position and number of the batteries. 
The advance was made in gallant style, but with severe loss, particularly in 
General Smith's division. It developed the enemy in force behind his entrench- 
ments, with formidable batteries, which made free use of shrapnel, canister and 
shell. 

During the night of the i6th, movements of the enemy were reported. Early in 
the morning of the 17th, the whole line advanced, but soon found that the enemy 
had retired. General Ferrero, commanding brigade of General Potter's division, 
moved into town, and immediately established guards and patrols. One second 
lieutenant and 137 enlisted men were taken prisoners. On the arrival of Gen- 
eral Blair's division, the brigade of General Potter's division was withdrawn. 
The command was then encamped near Pearl River. The destruction of the rail- 



APPENDIX 199 



road north of Jackson was then commenced, and by the evening of the 19th, 
about fifteen miles of track were rendered totally unfit for service. The ties 
were burned and the rails bent. 

On the morning of the 20th I started, with the two divisions of the Ninth 
Corps, to return to our old position at Milldale, near Snyder's Bluff, and reached 
our camp on the evening of the 23d, when I reported to General Grant. 

Herewith I have the honor to transmit the reports of the division commanders, 
embracing a list of casualties. 

Before closing this report, I take great pleasure in stating that the conduct of 
the officers and men throughout the campaign fully equalled my highest expecta- 
tions, although the excessive heat, dusty roads, and great scarcity of water tried 

them to the utmost. 

I have the honor to be your obedient servant, 

JOHN G. PARKE, 



Major General. 



Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Hammond, 
Chief of Staff. 



(Official Records, Vol. XXIV, Part 2, Page 562.) 



REPORT OF COLONEL DANIEL LEASURE, ONE HUNDREDTH PENN- 
SYLVANIA INFANTRY, COMMANDING THIRD BRIGADE. 

Grant's Mills, Pearl River, Miss., 
July 17, 1863. 

Captain— I have the honor to report the operations of this command from the 
4 th day of July, until the 16th, both inclusive, for the information of the briga- 
dier general commanding the division : 

On the 4th day of July, this command, composed of the Seventy-ninth Regi- 
ment New York Volunteers (Highlanders), Colonel Morrison commanding; 
the Second Regiment Michigan Volunteers, Colonel Humphrey commanding; 
the One Hundredth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers (Roundheads), Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Dawson commanding; the Eighth Regiment Michigan Volunteers, 
Colonel Graves commanding, and the Twentieth Regiment Michigan Volunteers, 
Lieutenant Colonel Smith commanding, were encamped at Flower Hill Church, 
fifteen miles east of Vicksburg. 

The enemy's forces in Vicksburg having surrendered unconditionally to the 
forces under Major General Grant, orders were received at these headquarters 
to break camp and move in light marching order toward the Big Black River 
at 4 p m. At 4 o'clock we marched, and bivouacked after marching eight miles. 

On the 5th we bivouacked near the Big Black, and on the 6th we crossed that 
river and marched toward the city of Jackson, the capital of the state, the Ninth 
Army Corps, Major General Parke commanding, forming the extreme left of the 
advancing colums, our course being such as to throw us, with the left of our 
line resting on Pearl River, north of the city. 



200 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

On the ioth, at 3 p. m., we arrived on the Jackson and Brownsville road, about 
two miles from the state insane asylum, which is situated on the Jackson and 
Canton road, about a mile from the city limit on the north. At this point we 
formed line of battle threatening the city. The First Brigade of the First Divi- 
sion, Colonel H. Bowman, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers commanding, 
formed with its right resting upon the Brownsville road. The Third Brigade 
(this command) formed on his left, constituting the extreme left of the line, 
with its left extending toward Pearl River. My instructions were to throw for- 
ward skirmishers to a distance of from 200 to 400 yards in advance of my line 
of battle, and conform the movement of my skirmishers and line of battle to 
those of Colonel Bowman's brigade. About 5 p. m. we commenced to advance, 
the Seventy-ninth Regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel Morrison command- 
ing, being thrown forward as skirmishers. At first our advance was through an 
immense plain of tall corn, bordering upon the Jackson & Memphis Railroad. 
On arriving near the railroad, we encountered the enemy's advanced line of 
skirmishers, which were rapidly driven by my line of skirmishers, which kept 
up a constant fire as it advanced. This command arrived first at the railroad, 
where it halted until the entire line had arrived at that point. We now encoun- 
tered a dense chaparral of undergrowth so that I was obliged to advance by 
right of companies to the front, the line of skirmishers meanwhile thoroughly 
beating the cover, until we arrived at the Jackson and Canton road, where the 
line was again formed, and we awaited orders. At this point, we discovered the 
advanced vedettes of a cavalry force of the enemy approaching the city by the 
Canton road. The vedettes fell back and it was afterward ascertained that the 
cavalry force amounted to several thousands. We saw nothing more of it. 

Again we advanced, swinging our left rapidly round, so as to close, if pos- 
sible, with our left resting on Pearl River, north of the city, or at least near 
enough to it to protect our left flank by skirmishers. At dark we arrived upon a 
road leading from the Canton road to Pearl River, and as this was parallel with 
our line of approach, and further progress through the chaparral imprudent, I 
ordered a halt, with my right resting near the left of Colonel Bowman, and 
awaited orders, which, having received, I threw out pickets and lay on arms till 
daylight of the nth, when we reformed and adjusted our line of battle. 

At 5 o'clock the whole line advanced toward the city. The Second Regiment 
Michigan Volunteers was now thrown forward as skirmishers on my right, and 
to advance upon the city until I drew the fire oi the enemy's batteries, then put my 
troops in the most convenient cover, and await orders. We now crossed an 
open space of nearly a mile, in front and to the east of the insane asylum, when 
we reached a small, dry channel of a run, from which there was a steep ascent 
to a high ridge in our front. On arriving at the top of the ridge, I found my 
skirmishers receiving and returning a rapid fire from the enemy, who was drawn 
up in line of battle behind some imperfectly constructed rifle-pits immediately 
beyond a small ravine that intervened between the high plateau occupied by my 
skirmishers and the high hill bounding the city on the north and commanding 
it as well as the approach from the north and northwest. 

Here were two guns, six and ten-pounder field pieces, in position behind 



APPENDIX 201 



the rifle-pits and partially protected by an unfinished earthwork. My right was 
about 200 yards from the enemy's works and my left about 500 yards, while my 
skirmishers were about 100 yards in front of my line of battle. Here we re- 
ceived the first fire from the enemy's artillery, and halted pursuant to orders. 

Just after we halted a few minutes, an order came down from the right (by 
whom I do not know), "Skirmishers on the left, forward, double-quick," and 
away went my line of skirmishers toward the enemy's works. Momentarily I 
waited for the order for the line to move rapidly forward to support the skir- 
mishers, but it did not come. Meanwhile, my skirmishers, supposing the line to 
be right after them, closed to half distance, dashed through the enemy's camp, 
which was in the ravine in front of their rifle-pits, drove their skirmishers 
into and then out of their rifle-pits into their line of battle, which also receded 
half way up the hill without any more than firing a single random volley. fTere 
my skirmishers looked back for support, and seeing it was not coming, slowly 
fell back to the crest of the hill in front of my line, where they commenced and 
kept up during the entire day and night following a most destructive fire upon 
the enemy, who had returned to complete his works and mount his batteries. 
At the very moment when the gallant Second Michigan Regiment (my skir- 
mishers) were entering the enemy's lines, I received an order to halt where I 
was, as General Sherman said we had already advanced further than he intended 
we should at the time, as the right of the investing army had mot yet got suffi- 
ciently forward. So I rested where I was. I had no doubt then, nor have I 
now, that if that order had not arrived at that moment, in twenty minutes the 
First Division would have been in the city, or at least held the heights that 
command it. To all intents and purposes, practical opposition to our advance 
was at an end at that point. 

During the day and succeeding night the enemy succeeded in perfecting his 
rifle-pits and batteries, so that by the morning of the 12th his works were formid- 
able, indeed, and about 8 o'clock on the morning of the 12th, the First Division 
was relieved by the Second Division, and I withdrew my command to the rear and 
in support of Edwards' battery, which was cur most advanced battery on the 
whole line. 

During the day and night of the nth. the Second Regiment Michigan Volun- 
teers sustained the hottest skirmishing fire I have ever witnessed, which they re- 
turned with telling effect, as was afterward well ascertained. Indeed, so far as 
that regiment was concerned, it was a battle. 

The gallant regiment sustained for twenty hours a continuous fire of infantry 
and artillery, and repulsed several attempts of the enemy to charge on them. 

The accompanying official list of casualties will speak for the truth of the 
above tribute of just praise. 

During the afternoon and night of the nth and the morning of the 12th, the 
entire line in reserve in the woods to rear of the line of skirmishers was enfiladed 
by the enemy's batteries, throwing solid shot, shell, grape and canister, from 
heavy guns put into battery during the day and night. 

During the afternoon of the 12th, General Welch called on me for a regiment 
to proceed up the Canton road for the purpose of protecting our rear and left 



202 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

flank from a threatened attack from the enemy's cavalry, who were reported in 
force in that direction. 

I sent the One Hundredth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, Lieutenant Col- 
onel Dawson commanding, and the regiment remained on that duty until it re- 
joined the command on the 17th, on the march up Pearl River. 

On the 14th and 15th, 1,200 men of this command, with a like number from 
Colonel Bowman's brigade, relieved the Second Division in front, having, during 
the intervening two days been on duty as picket, in support of Edwards' battery, 
or on fatigue. 

On the 16th, a general demonstration was made all along the line of our army, 
and this command was in position for some hours, but the object of the demon- 
stration having been accomplished, I returned to my old position, after having 
sent the Seventy-ninth Regiment New York Volunteers to make a reconnaissance 
to our left, along the Pearl River, which was most satisfactorily done. During 
the middle of the night of the 16th, the enemy evacuated Jackson, and the period 
of active operations in the field was at a close. 

I have the honor to report as above, 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

DANIEL LEASURE, 
Colonel Commanding Brigade. 
Captain George A. Hicks, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 



APPENDIX "D.' 



EAST TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN, 1863. 

I. Report of Major General A. E. Burnside, Commanding Army. 
Action at Blue Springs, October 10, 1863. 
Extract from report of Captain O. M. Poe. 
II. Report of Brigadier General Edward Ferrero, Commanding Division, 
November 14 to December 6, 1863. 

III. Report of Colonel William Humphrey, Commanding Brigade. 

November 14 to December 6, 1863. 

IV. Report of Major Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Regiment, November 

November 14 to November 21, 1863. 
V. Report of Major Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Regiment. 
Assault on Fort Sanders. 
VI. List of Casualties, November 17 to December 4. 
VII. Order of General Burnside Congratulating Troops^ 
VIII. Extracts from Report of General L. McLaws, Commanding Confederate 
Column. 
IX. Order of General Burnside, Farewell to Army of Ohio. 

X. Order of Major General J. G. Foster, Assuming Command. 
XI. Report of Brigadier General Edward Ferrero, Commanding Division. 
From Blain's Cross Roads to Erin's Station. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXX, Part 2, Serial 51, Page 551.) 



REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, U. S. ARMY, 
COMMANDING DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. 

Knoxville, Tenn., October 17, 1863, 10 p. m. 
(Received 1 a. m., 19th). 
********** 
(Battle of Blue Springs.) 
I now determined to push our advance further up the valley and for that pur- 
pose sent the Ninth Corps, under Brigadier General R. B. Potter, together with 
all the cavalry (excepting Byrd's and Wolford's brigades), under General Shack- 
elford, in that direction; they were joined by a division of General Willcox's at 
Bull's Gap on the 8th. 

Colonel Hoskins' brigade, which was at Morristown, was ordered to report to 



204 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



General Willcox. I left Knoxville on the morning of the Qth and overtook our 
forces on the same day at Bull's Gap. 

On the following morning the advance was ordered, and at Blue Springs, mid- 
way between Bull's Gap and Greenville, the enemy were found, posted in a 
heavy force and in a strong position, between the wagon road and railroad to 
Greenville. Our cavalry occupied him with skirmishing until late in the after- 
noon. Colonel Foster's brigade was sent around to the rear of the enemy, with 
instructions to establish himself on the line over which he would be obliged to 
retreat, at a point near Rheatown. It was not desirable to press the enemy until 
Colonel Foster had time to reach this point. 1 directed Captain Poe (my chief 
engineer) to make a reconnaissance of the enemy's position with a view to mak- 
ing the attack at the proper time. The ground was selected upon which the 
attacking force was to be formed, and at half past 3 o'clock, believing sufficient 
time had been given to Colonel Foster to reach the desired point, I ordered Gen- 
eral Potter to move up his command and endeavor to break through the center 
of the enemy's line. By 5 p. m. he had formed General Ferrero's division for 
the attack. When the order to advance was given, this division moved forward 
in the most dashing manner, driving the enemy from his first line. 

During the night he retreated, and we pursued early in the morning, driving 
him again beyond the Watauga River, beyond which point our cavalry was 
directed to hold him. Colonel Foster's brigade, which had been sent to cut off 
his retreat, met with serious difficulties in ihe way of rough roads, so that he did 
not reach the point on the enemy's line of retreat in time to make the necessary 
preparations to check him until our pursuing forces came up. * * * 

The Ninth Corps returned to Knoxville. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

A. E. BURNSIDE, 
Late Major General. 
Adjutant General U. S. Army, 

Washington, D. C. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXX, Part 2, Serial 51. Page 567.) 



REPORTS OF CAPTAIN ORLANDO M. POE, U. S. CORPS OF ENGI- 
NEERS. 

Engineer's Office, Army of the Ohio, 
Knoxville, Tenn., October 1, 1863. 
********** 
Until the 9th of October, I remained in Knoxville, superintending the work at 
that point. On the morning of the 9th, the general commanding and staff started 
for Bull's Gap. 

On the morning of the 10th, an advance was made toward Greenville. The 
enemy was encountered, posted on the high ground east of Blue Springs, and be- 



APPENDIX 205 



tween the Greenville road and the railroad and offered a stubborn resistance to 
our cavalry, holding them in check for some hours. 

By direction of the major general commanding, I made a reconnaissance to as- 
certain the position of the enemy's line and to determine upon the proper point 
and manner of attack. The reconnaissance was made very leisurely, as it was 
my understanding that it was desirable that the enemy should continue to occupy 
the position he then held until a brigade of cavalry under command of Colonel 
Foster, which had been detached to pass the enemy's rear, had reached a certain 
point. 

After having passed over a greater part of the line occupied by our skirmishers, 
I decided that the best attack could be made directly in front, and that, owing 
to the broken nature of the ground our lines could be best formed by moving 
the troops by the right flank, in column of fours, from the Greenville road, near 
the left of our line of skirmishers, immediately in rear of that line, toward the 
right, until ground enough had been passed over to admit the line of battle, and to 
form by simply facing to the front ; the troops would then be in position to 
attack. I should have stated that this entire movement could be made under 
cover of the ridge occupied by our skirmishers, and entirely out of sight of the 
enemy. My recommendations being nearly, if not altogether, in accordance with 
opinions which had been formed by the general commanding, were at once 
adopted, and the necessary orders given to carry them into effect. The attack was 
gallantly made and was eminently successful, the enemy being driven entirely 
from his position in advance to that occupied by his reserves. It was now quite 
dark, and everything was prepared to dislodge him from the latter, early in the 
morning, by which time Colonel Foster was expected to be in the main road 
east of Greenville and directly in the enemy's rear, a position he did reach 
before daybreak. The enemy, having had information of this movement, re- 
treated long before daylight from our front, and attacking Foster, succeeded in 
pushing him from their line of retreat and making good their escape. * * * 

ORLANDO M. POE, 
Captain U. S. Engineers, Chief Engineer, Army of the Ohio. 
Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, 
Commanding Army of the Ohio. 



KNOXVILLE CAMPAIGN. 
(Official Records, Vol. XXXI. Part 1, Page 349) 



REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD FERRERO. U. S. ARMY, 
COMMANDING FIRST DIVISION. 

Headquarters First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
Erin's Station, East Tenn., February 5, 1864. 

Sir— I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my 
command from the 14th of November to the 6th of December, 1863. 



2o6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



In accordance with instructions received from Major General Burnside, I 
moved my command on the morning of the 14th of November from Lenoir's Sta- 
tion (at 11 a. m.) toward Loudon, for the purpose of ascertaining at what point 
on the Holston River Longstreet's forces were crossing. 

On reaching the ruins of the Loudon bridge, I was informed that the enemy- 
were laying a pontoon bridge at Huffs Ferry, a distance of three and one-half 
miles from Loudon. I marched in the direction of said ferry, and soon came 
upon the enemy's pickets. Halting my command and reporting same to general 
commanding, received instructions to support General White's command, who had 
been assigned to drive in the enemy's pickets, which he did. Following up his 
command until we were one mile from the ferry, I took position on his right, 
covering the main road leading from the Berry. It now became too dark and 
stormy for further operations, so I ordered the command to rest for the night 
on their arms. At 10 p. m., I received an order to report in person to Major 
General Burnside's headquarters, where after a council was held, it was deter- 
mined to fall back slowly toward Lenoir's Station, so as to draw the enemy over 
the river and keep him engaged while other important movements were being 
carried out by the army in middle Tennessee. In accordance with this plan, 
on the 15th, left Huff's Ferry at 4 a. m., having the advance. The roads were 
in a fearful condition, it having rained all night quite heavily. It became almost 
impossible to move the artillery, although some pieces had sixteen horses, yet 
they were unable to get up the hill without the assistance of the men. I there- 
upon detailed a regiment of infantry to each piece, and by this means reached 
Lenoir's Station at 1 p. m., without sustaining any loss. I immediately placed 
my troops in position to cover the approach of the enemy from the Kingston 
road, Colonel Morrison's brigade in advance, extending from the Kingston 
road on his right to the Loudon road on his left, forming a semi-circle; Colonel 
Humphrey's brigade to the right of the Kingston road, connecting with Gen- 
eral White's command; Colonel Christ's brigade and Buckley's battery in reserve; 
Roemer's battery in position on the right and left of the Kingston road. I had 
hardly completed the above disposition of my troops, when the enemy attacked 
my line in force, but were repulsed by Colonel Morrison's brigade and Roemer's 
battery. Remained in this position during the night, the enemy making several 
attacks on my picket line with the intention of driving them in, but without 
avail. 

I am indebted to Colonel Morrison, commanding First Brigade, for his valu- 
able services, and to his command for their stubborn resistance of the enemy's 
advance, outnumbering them by thousands. 

It having been decided during the night cf the 15th, to retreat and make a 
stand at Campbell's Station, I was assigned to bring up the rear with my com- 
mand, and destroy all property that could not be transported. A large number 
of wagons, utensils, ammunition and baggage belonging to the Twenty-third 
Corps was destroyed, the mules having been taken to assist in drawing the 
artillery of the army, the roads being in such condition as to render it necessary 
to attach from 20 to 24 animals to each piece to enable us to move. 

I ordered Colonel Humphrey, commanding Third Brigade, and a section of 



APPENDIX 207 



Roemer's battery to cover the rear, drawing in our skirmishers, and retiring 
at daylight in the face of the enemy. On the 16th of November, marched toward 
Campbell's Station, halting from time to time so as to check the enemy's advance 
while the troops were getting into position for battle at the station. Reached 
the forks of the Kingston road at 10 a. m., making a junction with Colonel Har- 
tranft's command, when the enemy charged upon our lines and were met with 
a stubborn resistance and driven back, our forces gaining ground. 

At this victorious moment, received orders from the commanding general to 
fall back to a position at Campbell's Station, where the troops were formed in 
line prepared to give the enemy battle, retiring under fire, closely pursued by 
the enemy. 

Colonel Humphrey is entitled to great praise for the able manner in which he 
covered the retreat, pursued by an overwhelming force attacking him at every 
point, his command behaved with great gallantry, checking the enemy, thereby 
giving our forces time to select and get into position for a general engagement. 
Position of my command at Campbell's Station was as follows : Colonel Christ, 
commanding Second Brigade, on the right of the road ; Colonel Humphrey, com- 
manding Third Brigade, on the right of Colonel Christ; Colonel Morrison, com- 
manding First Brigade, supporting batteries; Captain Buckley's battery of light 
twelve-pounders, in position commanding the right flank ; Captain Roemer's bat- 
tery, the front. The enemy attacked our lines in force with infantry and artillery, 
but were repulsed at every point. 

I have to state that never did troops maneuver so beautifully and with such 
precision as during the engagement; changing positions several times under fire, 
it seemed more like a drill for field movements than otherwise; brigades moving- 
forward to relieve each other, others retiring, having exhausted their ammuni- 
tion ; changes of front, passing of defiles, were executed by men and officers, 
so as to draw forth exclamation of the highest praise by those who were so 
fortunate as to behold their movements. 

Colonel Christ, in command of the Second Brigade, executed movements with 
his command on the field which entitles him to the highest encomiums for ability 
and gallantry as a brigade commander. 

The losses up to this time were quite heavy for my command, including the 
engagement at the forks of the road, but the enemy must have suffered very 
severely, as they advanced their lines against a murderous fire from our forces, 
compelling them to fall back, which must have told effectually upon their lines. 
They did not attempt to advance again, but devoted themselves to shelling our 
position with their batteries, and endeavoring to flank us with their infantry. 
At 5 p. m. was ordered to meet the general commanding, and after consulta- 
tion it was decided to fall back to Knoxville. I was assigned the advance, and 
accordingly withdrew my command from the field and took up the line of march, 

reaching Knoxville at 12 o'clock the same night. 

*" ********* 

November 20, the enemy erected several batteries on my northwest front, 
directly opposite Fort Sanders. The enemy occupying a dwelling on the Kingston 
road, about 1,000 yards distant from the fort, doing material damage to my line 



208 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



of skirmishers, I determined to obtain possession and destroy same. I accord- 
ingly directed Colonel Humphrey, commanding Third Brigade, to detail a regi- 
ment to proceed, under cover of the night, to dislodge the enemy from said house, 
and to destroy the same by fire. 

The Seventeenth Michigan Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant Colonel 
Comstock was selected. They made the sortie at 8 p. m. and successfully ac- 
complished their mission. On returning, the enemy opened a severe artillery fire, 
with but slight injury to the regiment. A number of buildings in front of the 
Second Brigade were also destroyed. 
********** 

November 24, the enemy having dug rifle-pits within 500 yards of Fort San- 
ders, received instructions to make a sortie with a regiment and drive the ene- 
my's sharpshooters from the position. 

I ordered Colonel Humphrey, commanding Third Brigade, to detail a regiment 
for the duty. He accordingly sent the Second Michigan Volunteers. 

They gallantly charged the enemy's pits and drove them out, but were com- 
pelled to fall back after having held their newly gained ground for an hour, 
which resulted in a severe loss of four killed, sixty wounded and twenty-four 
missing. 

The enemy were discovered on the heights on the opposite side of the river 
(Holston), their position commanding Fort Sanders. Erected traverses of cot- 
ton during the night to protect the gunners. 

November 25, 26 and 27, nothing of importance occurred ; usual amount of 
skirmishing ; repairing damages and otherwise strengthening our position. At 
11 o'clock on the night of the 28th the enemy commenced driving in my skir- 
mishers, and by 12 130 had driven them all in from the Kingston road to the right 
of my line. An attack evidently was near at hand, but owing to the darkness of 
the night, the position and movements of the enemy could not be seen. I posted 
vedettes as far as practicable in front of the rifle-pits, and during the balance of 
the night, at frequent periods ordered the batteries to throw shells in different 
directions to do the enemy as much damage and to cause them as much annoyance 
as lay in my power. 

On the morning of the 29th, at daylight, the expected attack took place. The 
enemy poured out of the woods in front of the northwest salient of the fort, and 
with wild cheers advanced at a run for that salient. 

The telegraph wire caused many to fall, but the main body came on while 
three guns of Benjamin's battery, one of Roemer's, and one of Buckley's were 
pouring in a destructive fire of grape, and the Seventy-ninth New York Volun- 
teers a deadly shower of musketry upon the advancing column. Forcing their 
way through the abatis they rushed up to the ditch of the fort, which at that 
point, being quite deep, caused a momentary hesitation. 

In a moment, however, the ditch was filled with the enemy, and the outer slope 
of the parapet was covered with them, but the musketry fire was so intense and 
steady that but few dared show their heads. 

One rebel with a flag endeavored to approach the embrasure, when Sergeant 
Frank Judge, Company D, Seventy-ninth New York Volunteers, rushed out of 



APPENDIX 209 



the embrasure under the hottest fire, seized him by the collar and dragged him 
with his flag into the fort. Having no hand grenades, Lieutenant Benjamin 
ignited some time-fuse shells and threw them with his own hand over the parapet 
into the ditch among the enemy, causing great destruction among them. 

I now ordered five companies of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers 
and two companies of the Twentieth Michigan Volunteers into the fort to assist 
the Seventy-ninth New York Volunteers. 

They obeyed the order with alacrity, and taking the positions assigned them, 
rendered valuable aid in keeping the enemy out of the fort. Learning that the 
ditch was full of the enemy, I ordered one company of the Second Michigan 
Volunteers to advance into the ditch from the right, and one company of the 
One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers from the left of the fort. This was in- 
stantly carried out and their advance was so determined that those in the ditch 
at once surrendered, and being ordered into the fort, came pouring in through 
the embrasures and gave themselves up. Nearly 200 were captured in this man- 
ner, together with two other flags. 

In the meantime, the column of the enemy in front of the fort, being halted 
by the delay caused by their comrades in the ditch, were discharging an incessant 
but harmless fire of musketry into the air, till getting confused and demoralized 
by the terrible fire which was poured into them from the fort, they wavered, 
then broke and ran in disorder back to the woods. Those nearest the fort being 
called on to surrender, came in through the embrasures. 

Two hundred and fifty prisoners and 3 flags were captured from the enemy in 
this attack. 

I at once ordered the skirmishers to advance, which they did, and took their po- 
sitions on the line which was occupied by their reserves the day before. After 
this, up to the time the enemy retreated, nothing but the usual skirmish fire took 
place, and that was not as annoying as usual. In anticipation, however, of another 
night attack, I ordered balls of wick, soaked in turpentine and fagots of hard 
pine coated with pitch to be placed at different points on the skirmish line, to be 
ignited in case of an alarm. 

On the morning of the 5th of December, at 1 o'clock, I advanced vedettes from 
the skirmish line, and the pits of the enemy were found empty. When daylight 
appeared, no rebels were to be seen from Fort Sanders. 

I cannot speak too highly of the behavior of the officers and men of my com- 
mand during the past twenty-one days. In that time all the qualities embodied 
in the true soldier have been called into action and nobly have they stood the 
test. 

On a scanty allowance of meat and coarse meal, without any other drink than 
cold water, they have performed these days and nights of incessant labor and 
watchfulness without a murmur. 

In the officers that have been killed I have lost brave and valuable soldiers. 

Colonel W. H. Smith, Twentieth Michigan Volunteers, was shot through the 
head and instantly killed, while leading his regiment into the fight at Camp- 
bell's Station. 
********** 

14 



2io TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Captain Wiltsie, Twentieth Michigan Volunteers ; Lieutenant Billingsley, Sev- 
enteenth Michigan Volunteers; Lieutenants Noble, Galpin and Zoellner, Second 
Michigan Volunteers, and Lieutenant Holmes, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, were all killed while in the performance of their duties. * * * 

The total number of killed, wounded and missing, from November 14 to De- 
cember 6, was 482, a detailed report of which has already been forwarded. 
I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

EDW. FERRERO, 
Brigadier General, Commanding. 
Lieutenant Colonel N. Bowen, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part 1. Page 361.) 



REPORT OF COLONEL WILLIAM HUMPHREY, SECOND MICHIGAN 
INFANTRY, COMMANDING THIRD BRIGADE. 

Headquarters, Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
Near Knoxville, Tenn., December 6, 1863. 
Sir— I have the honor to transmit the following report of the operations of 
my command from the morning of November 14 to the morning of December 5 : 
November 14— On the morning of November 14, I received orders from divi- 
sion headquarters to have my command ready to move from its camp near Le- 
noir's at an early hour. The wagons were to be loaded and formed in train on 
the road, and headed toward Knoxville, the trains being under charge of Cap- 
tain Curtin. The order was promptly complied with and at daylight the brigade 
was ready to move. 

At 9 a. m., I received orders to send one regiment to report to Captain Curtin, 
as a guard for the train. I sent the One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant 
Dawson, commanding. 

At 12 m., I received orders to move the brigades on the road toward Loudon, 
following Roemer's battery. In this order we marched to Huff's Ferry, five 
miles below Loudon, where we bivouacked for the night. 

November 15 — At 4 a. m., the 15th, I was ordered to follow in the rear of 
Roemer's battery back on the road toward Lenoir's Station. We reached the 
station about 12 m. and halted between the railroad and river, awaiting orders. 
At 2 p. m., by order from division headquarters, I sent the Twentieth Michi- 
gan, Lieutenant Colonel Smith commanding, back on the Loudon road to where 
the Kingston telegraph road leaves it toward the right, with instructions to 
remain in that position, until the Second Division should pass through to the 
rear, then to report back to the brigade. Colonel Smith reported to me with his 
regiment at sunset, and was ordered at once to take position on the left of the 
First Brigade, connecting on the right with the Eighth Michigan, and his left 
resting on the railroad. Here the Twentieth Michigan remained until the line 
was withdrawn on the morning of the 16th. 



APPENDIX 211 



At 4 p. m. (November 15), I was ordered to move the two remaining regiments 
of my command to the crest of the hill in front of Lenoir's on the Kingston 
road, to form in line on the right of the road, to throw out skirmishers to cover 
my front, and extend them to the right so as to connect at Lenoir's dam with the 
skirmishers of General White's division of the Twenty-third Corps. This dis- 
position was made, and in this position I remained until 2 p. m. of the 16th, 
when I was ordered to withdraw my line, march back to the railroad and halt. 

November 16, at 4 a. m., General Ferrero notified me that my command would 
form the rear guard of the army in the march of the day toward Knoxville, and 
one section of Roemer's battery was ordered to report to me for duty on the 
march. At daylight, the column having passed by far enough, I took up the line 
of march, moving leisurely along, halting and forming occasionally to allow the 
trains to get forward out of the way. The enemy did not get up with my rear, 
the Seventeenth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Comstock commanding, until the 

brigade had nearly crossed Creek, when a sharp fire was suddenly 

opened on the Seventeenth, on both the rear and flank. The fire was promptly 
returned and the enemy checked until the rest of the command could be formed 
in line, when Colonel Comstock was ordered to withdraw and pass through to 
the rear of the line, and form on the left of the Twentieth Michigan, in order 
to check the enemy in his attempt to turn my left. As soon as he was in the po- 
sition designated, I commenced moving my line to the rear, halting at every few 
rods, facing about, and checking the enemy, who was crowding on in strong 
force. Moving in this manner, I had succeeded in falling back to the rear of 
the woods beyond the large, open field in front of Campbell's Station. 

Here I was ordered to make a stand and held the enemy in check until some 
move in my rear should be completed, when a smart fight of half an hour's dura- 
tion occurred. 

The enemy made a strong effort to get around my left, and at one time had 
nearly succeeded. He had thrown back the Seventeenth in considerable confu- 
sion, and was crowding on as if sure of accomplishing his object. To defeat his 
move, I rode to the Seventeenth and ordered the regiment to charge at once, 
at the same time ordering the skirmishers from the Twentieth and Second 
Michigan to be thrown forward, with a yell Lo aid the Seventeenth. The charge 
was finely made, driving the enemy through the wood into the field beyond, 
and throwing his front line into considerable confusion. Before making this 
move on the enemy I had received orders to withdraw my line, and under (cover 
of the check) given the enemy by this repulse, I fell back unmolested to the 
position ordered, on the extreme right of the front line, at the battle of Camp- 
bell's Station. I held my position here, receiving and returning quite a smart 
fire, until half past one, when I was relieved by Colonel Christ, with the Second 
Brigade, and moved back into the shallow ravine just in the rear of the town. 
Two hours later, I moved back to the rear of the batteries then being put into 
position, on the right of the road. 

Thence at dark, I fell into column to the rear of Benjamin's battery and 
marched to this place, where we arrived between 4 and 5 a. m. of the 17th. 

The men were allowed to rest until 9 a. m., when I was ordered to move to a 



2i 2 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



position joining on the right the Second Brigade and my left covering the north- 
ern front of Fort Sanders. Just as I had established my line here. Lieutenant 
Colpnel Dawson reported to me with seven companies of his command (the 
other three companies having reported at Campbell's Station). During the after- 
noon I threw a rifle pit along the whole front of my command reaching from 
the western salient of the fort on the left to Colonel Christ's line on the right. 
During the 18th, the men were kept at work strengthening our position by 
felling timber and spreading the loose brush that had been thrown into heaps 
over the ground along the front of the line. 

At 12 m., on the 19th, the cavalry had all been withdrawn from the front, and 
I was ordered to form a strong picket line along the line of the railroad to the 
wood, thence across the Kingston road. The right of the line was afterward 
thrown forward so as to take a direction nearly perpendicular to the railroad. 
On the afternoon of the 20th, General Ferrero ordered me to send out a regiment 
in the night — coming home at such hour as I might choose— to burn a large 
brick house situated on the Kingston road and occupied by the enemy's picket re- 
serve. I accordingly ordered the Seventeenth Michigan to burn the house at 9 
p. m. ( which the regiment succeeded in doing with a loss of but two killed. 

The 21 st was a rainy day, and but little was done by the command except to 
watch the enemy. 

November 22— Moved the One Hundredth Pennsylvania round to the left into 
a pit running from the fort to the Kingston road. 

At daylight, on the morning of the 24th, General Ferrero ordered me to send 
out one regiment to take and hold, if possible, a line of light rifle-pits thrown up 
by the enemy on the night of the 22d. Major Byington was ordered by me to 
take the Second Michigan and carry out the instructions I had received from the 
general. He carried the pit and held it until just one-half the number that he 
had taken out with him were either killed or wounded, when a large force of the 
enemy charging the pit, he ordered the regiment to fall back to its camp. 

The 25th, 26th and 27th were comparatively quiet days, and until the evening 
of the 28th, when at 11 p. m. a general advance was made by the enemy's line, 
and the pickets in my front, together with those of the brigade on my right and 
left, were driven in, nearly to the works. 

At daylight of the 29th an assault was made by the enemy on the western 
salient of Fort Sanders. When the assault was made, there Was of my com- 
mand two companies of the Twentieth Michigan and one of the One Hundredth 
Pennsylvania within the fort, and four companies of the Second Michigan in the 
ditch across the southwestern front of the fort. These companies maintained 
their position in the ditch until the enemy's column reached it, then retired 
within the fort and aided in repelling the assault. A truce suspended for the re- 
mainder of the day any further operations. 

The regiments were kept, the 30th, within their pits ready for an anticipated 
attack from the enemy, but none was made. 

December 1, 2, 3 and 4— With the exception of picket firing these were very 
quiet days. 

December 5— This morning the enemy had disappeared from my front, and 



APPENDIX 



213 



during the day the men passed beyond our lines and into the deserted camps of 
the enemy ; found and brought in as prisoners some 70 or 80 who had failed 
to get away with their retreating comrades. 

Here ends the operations of my command, initiated by the advance of the army 
from Lenoir's, followed by the falling back of the army from Lenoir's, followed 
by the falling back of the army to Campbell's Station ; a battle at this point, 
thence a severe night march to Knoxville, through the seige of the latter place, 
and closing with the raising of the siege during the nights of December 4 and 
5. The service performed was extremely severe, and the loss in officers and men 
heavy, as shown by the following table : 



Command. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Missing. 


Total. 


Second Michigan : 

Officers 


2 
25 


5 

78 

1 

10 

4 
41 

2 

46 








21 


124 


One-Hundredth Pennsylvania: 


1 




4 

1 

4 

2 
12 




14 


Twentieth Michigan : 




5 




17 

1 

26 


62 


Seventeenth Michigan: 

Officers 


5 
84 








302 







For details of the part taken by the several regiments of my command in the 
operations of the twenty-one days from November 14 to December 5, inclusive, 
I refer you to the reports of regimental commanders, copies of which are for- 
warded with this report. 

In closing you will allow me to add that it was the fortune of the Third 
Brigade to be in the thickest of all this conflict, as its long list of casualties 
attests, and whether in covering a retreat, in making a night attack, in meeting 
an assault, or in the charge, all, both officers and men, have performed the duties 
assigned them with the most determined bravery, and have proved themselves 
reliable in any emergency. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

WILLIAM HUMPHREY, 
Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 
Captain George A. Hicks, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 



214 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part i, Page 369.) 



REPORTS OF MAJOR BRYON M. CUTCHEON, TWENTIETH MICHI- 
GAN INFANTRY. 

Hdqrs. Twentieth Michigan Infantry. 
Fortifications before Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 21, 1863. 

Sir — In accordance with orders from brigade headquarters of this date, I 
have the honor to forward the following report of operations of this command 
from the time it left Lenoir's Station till it came within these fortifications. 

On Saturday, November 14, we broke camp at Lenoir's at daylight and about 
noon, in common with the remainder of the division, took up the line of march 
to Huff's Ferry, where we arrived at about dark the same night, a distance 
of about 10 miles. That night we slept upon our arms and the men suffered 
considerably from the cold and rain. 

Before daylight the next morning the regiment was again upon the road, and 
arrived again at Lenoir's at about noon, after a very tiresome march, on account 
of the bad condition of the road from the recent rains. 

At about 2 p. m. this regiment was ordered to return about three miles upon 
the Loudon road to the point where the Telegraph road turns off toward 
Kingston, and hold the forks of the roads until the Second Division should 
have passed us and then fall back covering them. 

The regiment had nearly reached the forks of the roads when it was over- 
taken by an aide from Brigadier General Potter, commanding Ninth Army 
Corps, who ordered it back to the point where the railroad and highway separate, 
one mile from Lenoir's, where we took up a position on a slight eminence and 
formed in line of battle across the highway and railroad. 

The command remained here until the Second Division had passed and the 
stragglers had ceased to come in. when we moved to the front and took a posi- 
tion in line with the remainder of the brigade on the Kingston road. We had 
scarcely stacked arms when we were ordered again to the Loudon road to 
protect the left flank. By direction of Lieutenant Colonel Smith, then com- 
manding, I deployed four companies as skirmishers, their right connecting with 
the Eighth Michigan Infantry on the crest of the hill, and their left resting 
upon the railroad about three-fourths of a mile from the station. The remain- 
ing six companies were held in reserve, and all lay upon their arms without 
sleeping or taking off their knapsacks. 

Between the hours of 3 and 4 a. m. Monday, November 16, the regiment 
was ordered in, and after assembling the skirmishers it rejoined the brigade 
near the station, where it lay until daylight. Meanwhile Company C was de- 
tailed to assist in destroying the trains of the Twenty-third Army Corps. It 
may be proper here to state that most of the baggage of the officers of the 
regiment was destroyed. By whose order I am not aware. 

The Third Brigade being the rear guard, the position of the regiment was 
next to the rear. We had scarcely left the station when skirmishing commenced, 



APPENDIX 215 



and the enemy followed us closely, keeping most of the time in sight. No 
actual collision occured until we reached a point about a mile from the junction 
of the Kingston with the Loudon road. Here a stand was made, the Twen- 
tieth being in line upon a hill to the left of the road, supporting a piece of 
artillery. Company B, Captain C. T. Allen, which Company had hitherto been 
acting as flankers, was now deployed as skirmishers to the right of the road 
in the woods. After a brief stand at this point the regiment was ordered back, 
and moved back by the left flank and again took position to the left of the road 
on the high hill, the Second Michigan Infantry being on the right of the road, 
supporting a piece of artillery. At this point Company B. retook its place in line, 
and Company D, Captain C. B. Grant, was ordered to the front as skirmishers, 
to cover the retreat of the Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, now falling back 
after a heavy skirmish. 

When the Seventeenth Michigan Infantry had passed around our left flank 
and regained the road, the regiment again fell back gradually, the skirmishers 
covering the movement, until it gained the edge of a piece of woods and formed, 
its right resting on the road, and its left supported by the Seventeenth Michigan 
Infantry, which by this time had reformed on our left. The enemy advanced 
rapidly and attempted to outflank our left. The line had scarcely been formed 
when the regiment met its greatest loss in the death of Lieutenant Colonel 
Smith, commanding. He fell pierced through the brain by a bullet, and expired 
instantly, without a word or a groan, while bravely encouraging the men and 
setting them an example of coolness and intrepidity. I cannot forbear here to 
testify to his efficiency as an officer, his faithfulness and courage as a soldier, and 
his worth as a man. 

On the fall of Lieutenant Colonel Smith the undersigned immediately as- 
sumed command. Notwithstanding the shock produced by the fall of their leader 
the regiment did not waver for a moment but seemed to rally with new vigor 
and increased steadiness. The men were falling fast, when the regiment was 
again ordered back. We now fell back to near the junction of the Kingston 
and Loudon roads, when the Seventeenth Michigan Infantry, being ordered to 
charge and drive back the enemy's skirmishers, the three left companies of the 
Twentieth, supposing the order to be general, charged with them and did good 
service. We now fell back from the woods through a wide, open field, receiving 
a volley from the rebel lines at long range. 

We took position on the right of the road, a short distance in front of the 
village of Campbell's Station, and Company D retook its place in line, and a 
detail of two from each company, under Lieutenant Blood, Company D, was 
made to relieve them. Here we remained exposed to a galling flank fire, after 
being constantly under fire for four hours. 

After lying in reserve until near night, we took a new position in rear of 
Campbell's Station, and at dark took up a line of march to this place, which we 
reached at about 5 a. m. on the morning of the 17th, exceedingly worn-out, 
weary, and yet ready for the labors before us, having marched 24 miles and been 
under fire eight hours out of the twenty-four. 

Of the conduct and fate of Lieutenant Colonel Smith I have already spoken, 



2i6 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



and it is only needful to say that every officer and man, so far as I observed, 
did his whole duty. The company commanders report that the conduct of their 
men was so uniformly good that they cannot specify instances. I will only 
speak of Captain G. C. Barnes, who assisted me in command of the regiment, 
who was at all times prompt and efficient and Captain Grant and Lieutenant 
Blood, who commanded the skirmishers, who exposed themselves freely and 
handled their men well. 

I append hereto a list of casualties, and may add that since our arrival 
in the fortifications we have lost one officer and one man wounded, Captain 
F. Porter, Company E, and Private W. Filkins, Company B. 

Notwithstanding the hardships endured, the spirits and health of the men 
are good, and they are still ready to undergo whatever may be necessary to 
secure the success of our arms. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

BRYON M. CUTCHEON, 
Major, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Infantry. 
Lieut. B. H. BERRY, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

Headquarters Twentieth Michigan Infantry, 
Fort Sanders, Knoxville, East Tenn., December 2, 1863. 

Lieutenant — In accordance with circular of this date from brigade head- 
quarters, I have the honor to forward the following report of the part taken in 
the action of the night of the 28th and morning of the 29th ultimo by this 
command : 

At the time of the first attack. Lieutenant C. S. Wortley, Company K, of this 
regiment, was on picket with 35 men and 5 non-commissioned officers in front 
of the southwest salient of the fort. When the attack was first made the 
men discharged their pieces but were overpowered by numbers and obliged to 
fall back upon the reserve, which in turn also was forced back. About a 
dozen men came back to the regiment, of whom three were slightly wounded; 
all but one I sent back to their posts. When ihe picket line was re-established 
Lieutenant Wortley succeeded in collecting 27 of his men, and established them 
upon the new line. Among the missing was a large proportion of non-commis- 
sioned officers. 

Immediately after the attack in front of the fort one was also made on that 
part of the line in front of this regiment, which lies on the farther side of the 
railroad. Though nothing could be seen, the command "Forward to the Rail- 
road" was distinctly heard from the rebel officers. Our men stood their ground 
but a short time, and fell back across the railroad. Immediately the firing 
ceased I ordered several men at differernt points along the line to make their 
way carefully to the railroad and report the condition of affairs. They soon 
returned and reported that they had been to the railroad; that there was no 
enemy on this side, but that there seemed to be about a regiment on the other 
side, intrenching along the bank of the railroad. This I reported to the Colonel 



APPENDIX 217 



commanding the brigade, who directed me to throw forward vedettes to the rail- 
road, with picks and spades, and there intrench themselves. 

Accordingly I detailed 20 men, under charge of Lieutenant Lounsberry, Com- 
pany I, who deployed his men in front of the works and moved forward to 
the railroad. Within three rods of the latter they were met by a heavy volley 
from a line of skirmishers which had crossed the railroad. Lieutenant Louns- 
berry with his men returned the fire and fell back a few rods to the brow of the 
hill, with the loss of one man severely wounded, and one missing, supposed 
to be wounded and captured. Lieutenant Lounsberry then intrenched himself 
on the brow of the hill, which position he held the remainder of the night, and 
during the fight of the morning. 

At the time the pickets were driven in from beyond the railroad, one piece 
of the Second New York Artillery was taken from the third redoubt and fired 
several times over the heads of the men in the rifle-pits. One of the shells 
exploded at the muzzle of the gun, instantly killing Corporal Haight, of Com- 
pany H, and wounding (probably mortally) Private Van Atter, Company K. 
We were also annoyed by shells from the enemy's battery on the south side of 
the river. One of these struck in the rifle-pit, killing one man and wounding 
another. Immediately after the first attack, by orders from brigade head- 
quarters, Company C, was sent into the fort and took position in the salient 
near General Ferrero's headquarters. There they remained, doing excellent 
service during the subsequent engagement. When the final attack was made 
at daylight, a part of the pickets, under Lieutenant Wortley, also took position 
in the fort and fought bravely. In consequence of the lay of the ground 
it was impossible for any of our line to the right of the first redoubt to 
see the enemy, but Companies A, and D on the left, occupyng the right 
wing of the fort, had an excellent position, commanding the whole of the 
west face of the fort. They kept up a rapid and effectual fire throughout the 
fight, firing nearly forty rounds to the man. 

Being myself at the center of the regiment, I did not witness the conduct of 
the men, but it is reported by the officers in charge to have been excellent: 
every man stood to his post and behaved with the utmost activity and gallantry. 
I append hereto a list of our losses. 

Recapitulation: Killed, 2; wounded, 8; missing, 13. Total 23. 

It may be proper for me here to state that Captain W. D. Wiltsie and Private 
Sevy, Company E, wounded in the pits on the 24th and 25 ultimo, died of their 
wounds on the 28th. 

I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant, 

BRYON M. CUTCHEON, 
Major, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Infantry. 

Lieut. B. H. BERRY, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 



2l8 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part i, Page 200.) 



LIST OF CASUALTIES, NOVEMBER 17 TO DECEMBER 4. 



Third Brigade. 
Col. William Humphrey. 


Killed. 


Wounded. 


Captured 
or missing. 


i> 


to 

u 

6 
O 


.225 

H 


h 
W 

Q - 
O 


-a 

4> 

eg 


03 

u 
« 
S 
O 




4) 

(a 

bo 

tic 
< 




2 
3 


8 
1 
2 
3 


4 

3 
1 


63 
10 
13 

8 




16 
18 
12 


93 




31 




30 






12 












Totals 




14 


8 


\)i 




46 


166 







(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part 1, Page 280.) 



ORDER OF MAJOR GENERAL BURNSIDE, CONGRATULATING 

TROOPS. 



General Field Orders, Hdqrs. Army of the Ohio. 

N0.33. In the field, November 30, 1S63. 

The brilliant events of the 29th instant, so successful to our arms, seem to 
present a fitting occasion for the commanding general to thank his army for 
their conduct through the severe experience of the past seventeen days, to assure 
them of the important bearing it has had on the campaign in the West, and to 
give them the news of the great victory gained by General Grant, toward which 
their fortitude and bravery have in a high degree contributed. 

In every fight in which they have been engaged, and recently in those near 
Knoxville, at Loudon and Campbell's Station, and finally around the defenses on 
both sides of the river, while on the march and in cold and in hunger, they 
have everywhere shown a spirit which has given to the Army of the Ohio 
a name second to none. 

By holding in check a powerful body of the enemy, they have seriously weak- 
ened the rebel army under Bragg, which has been completely defeated by Gen- 
eral Grant, and at the latest accounts was in full retreat for Dalton, closely pur- 
sued by him, with the loss of 6,000 prisoners, 52 pieces of artillery and 12 stand 
of colors. 

For this great and practical result, toward which the Army of the Ohio has 
done so much, the commanding General congratulates them, and with the 
fullest reliance on their patience and courage in the dangers they have yet to 



APPENDIX 219 

meet, looks forward with confidence, under the blessing of Almighty God, to 
a successful close of the campaign. 

By Command of Major General Burnside: 

LEWIS RICHMOND, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part 1, Page 489.) 



EXTRACT, FROM REPORT OF GENERAL McLAWS. 

Sparta, Ga., April 19, 1864. 

********** 

Before four o'clock on the morning of the 29th, I went around with my staff 
to superintend the execution of my orders for the assault. It was evident to 
me that the enemy were aware that one was intended, and I think it probable 
they knew where it was to be made, for while I was talking to Colonel Ruff 
on the railroad the enemy threw a shell, which burst over the woods just in 
rear of us through which Colonel Ruff's command (Wofford's brigade) was 
passing, assembling by regiments for the assault. I have since heard that the 
enemy were informed, and that during the night of the 28th they had been 
employed in pouring buckets of water over the parapets to render it difficult 
to ascend, the night being very cold. The commands being in position and in 
readiness, and the sharpshooters having been directed to open fire all along their 
lines as soon as it was light enough to aim, and I distributed my staff officers 
along the line, and rode over to Major Leyden's battery and to General Ker- 
shaw's line, and found Major Leyden— awaiting until it was light enough to 
see his elevators, and Kershaw's line ready, I gave Major Leyden orders to 
open fire while I was there, and rode toward the assaulting columns. As I went 
they could be seen advancing in fine style. I rode straight to Wofford's brigade, 
on the left, and as I approached the work, found the men falling back, the 
officers reporting it was impossible to mount the parapet, and that the brigade 
commander (Colonel Ruff) and his next in command (Colonel Thomas) had 
been killed and the next in command wounded. I rallied the brigade about 
400 yards from the work, reformed the regiments in the order they went to 
the assault, notified them who was their brigade commander, and the regi- 
ments who commanded them, and then consulted with General Humphreys and 
Bryan; and finding it was useless to attempt to take the work, I reported to 
General Longstreet, and asked authority to withdraw my command. Permission 
was given and the main body was withdrawn, but the advanced line of pits was 
still held by sharpshooters. When it was seen that W r offord's brigade could not 
mount the parapet, General G. T. Anderson's brigade, of Hood's division, came 
rushing to the assault in the same place where my command had attempted it, 
but was repulsed at once and retired. 
********** 



220 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

That most of the men were killed by a fire from the left of my line, over 
which I had no control, and that if I had had straw wherewith to fill up the 
ditch, as general Longstreet testified he expected me to have, it would have been 
set on fire by the hand grenades thrown over the parapet by the enemy, and my 
wounded in the ditch would have been burned to death. * * * 

The main cause of failure was, however, the slipperiness of the parapet, upon 
which it was impossible for any large body of men to gain a foothold, and the 
severe fire from the north side of the fort, which drove the men from the most 

accessible point of ascent. 

********** 

L. McLAWS, 

Major General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part 3, Page 384.) 

General Field Orders, Hdqrs. Army of the Ohio. 

ho. 38. Knoxville, Term., December 11, 1863. 

In obedience to orders from the War Department the commanding general 
this day resigns to Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, the command of the Army of the 
Ohio. 

On severing the tie which has united him to this gallant Army he cannot 
express his deep personal feeling at parting from men brought near to him by 
their mutual experience^ in the eventful scenes of the past campaign, and who 
have always, regardless of every privation and of every danger, cheerfully and 
faithfully performed their duty. Associated with many of their number from 
the earliest days of the war, he takes leave of this Army not only as soldiers to 
whose heroism many a victorious battle field bears witness, but as well-tried 
friends who in the darkest hours have never failed him. With the sincerest 
regret he leaves the department without the opportunity of personally bidding 
them farewell. 

To the citizen soldiers of East Tennessee, who proved their loyalty in the 
trenches of Knoxville, he tenders his warmest thanks. 

With the highest confidence in the patriotism and skill of the distinguished 
officer who succeeds him, with whom he has been long and intimately con- 
nected in the field, and who will be welcomed as their leader by those who 
served with him in the memorable campaign in North Carolina, and by all as 
one identified with some of the most brilliant events of the war, he transfers to 
him the command, assured that under his guidance the bright record of the 
Army of the Ohio will never grow dim. 

By command of Major General Burnside. 

LEWIS RICHMOND, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 



APPENDIX 



(Official Records, Vol. XXXI, Part 3, Page 384.) 

General Field Orders, Hdqrs. Army of the Ohio. 

No. 39. Knoxville, Term., December nth, 1863. 

In compliance with the orders of the War Department, Major General John 
G. Foster, this day assumes the command of the Army of the Ohio. He accepts 
with pride a position which his predecessor has rendered illustrious. After 
a long period of unbroken friendship, strengthened by the intimate relations of 
active service with him in a campaign which is prominent* in the history of 
the war, he can add to the general voice his tribute to the high worth and 
stainless name of the recent commander of the Army of the Ohio. The work 
he has so ably planned and vigorously conducted, it will be the aim of the 
commanding general to complete. 

For the future of this command he has no fears. * * * 

By Command of Major General Foster: 

EDWARD E. POTTER, 
Brigadier General and Chief of Staff. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXXII, Part 1, Page 104.). 



REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL EDWARD FERRERO, U. S. ARMY, 
COMMANDING FIRST DIVISION, NINTH CORPS. 

Hdqrs. First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
Camp near Erin's Station, East Tenn., January 30, 1864. 

Sir — I have the honor to submit the following report for the information of 
the commanding general : 

According to instructions received I marched the Ninth Army Corps on the 
morning of the 16th instant at 9 a. m from Blain's Cross Roads to Straw- 
berry Plains, where I received orders to encamp the command, with the ex- 
ception of one brigade, which was ordered to take position on the south bank 
of the river Holston. 
********** 

On the evening of the 20th, a detachment of the enemy made a dash on our 
pickets on the Danbridge road, but were promptly met and repulsed. During 
the evening, I received instructions to march the command across the bridge 
and leave a strong picket force to protect the men engaged in destroying the 
bridge. The command crossed at 9 p. m., and the bridge was destroyed during 
the night. The pickets were withdrawn at 10 o'clock the next morning cross- 
ing the river on a flat without molestation. 

On the morning of the 21st, I ordered Colonel Morrison commanding First 
Brigade, to relieve troops of the Twenty-third Corps, stationed to cover the 
bridge. The Seventy-ninth New York Volunteers garrisoned the block house, 
and Lieutenant Gittings' battery was placed in a position commanding the 



TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



opposite approaches to the bridge, supported by the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts 
Volunteers. 

The Twentieth Michigan Volunteers were placed on the road leading to 
Blain's Cross Roads, picketing the river to the left. Colonel Pierce's brigade 
was stationed two miles below, guarding the fords to the right. Colonel Collins' 
brigade (Second Division) was held in reserve. 

At about ii a. m. the enemy made their appearance in force on the south 
bank of the river, placing six guns in position and opening a severe fire on my 
forces, evidently determined to dislodge them for the purpose of saving the 
bridge, which was in flames at the time. I ordered Lieutenant Gittings to 
open fire on the enemy, which he did vigorously, and was replied to by the 
enemy's batteries, but without any material damage to my command. This artil- 
lery duel was kept up for nearly four hours without cessation, when the enemy 
were compelled to abandon their position and retreat out of sight. 

The bridge being completely destroyed I received instructions to move my 
command during the night of the 21st toward Knoxville. 

The command moved at 3 a. m. of the 22d, Colonel Morrison bringing up the 
rear with his brigade. Two pieces of artillery having been left without transpor- 
tation (belonging to another corps) and not wishing to leave or destroy them, 
I appealed to the men of my command, and they cheerfully manned the ropes 
and dragged the guns and limbers to within seven miles of Knoxville, when 
horses were obtained to take them the remainder of the distance. 

At 12 m. on the 22d, I halted the command on the road within seven miles 
of Knoxville, when Colonel Morrison reported to me the enemy's cavalry fol- 
lowing in his rear in force. I received instructions to take a position on the 
right of the road connecting with General Manson. Remaining in said position 
for some time and the enemy showing no disposition to attack us, I received in- 
structions to continue my march toward Knoxville. I marched the command 
to within three and one-half miles of the city; again formed line of battle 
awaiting the attack of the enemy. They advanced their skirmishers quite 
boldly, and occupied a commanding crest a very short distance in front of 
my line, which would have proved destructive to my men, had they been 
allowed to remain. I accordingly ordered two companies of the Twenty- 
seventh Michigan Volunteers to charge and carry the crest, which they did 
in a most gallant manner, causing the enemy to make a most precipitate 
retreat. 

Occupied the position during the night without further molestation from the 
enemy. 

At daylight on the morning of the 23d, I ordered a company of the Twenty- 
seventh Michigan Volunteers to advance as skirmishers supported by the Second 
Maryland Volunteers. After having scoured the country for a distance of five 
miles, and not being able to find the enemy, rejoined the command, where we 
remained during that day and night. 

On the morning of the 24th, I received instructions to march the command 
to some suitable camp within supporting distance of Knoxville. * * * * 

Too much praise cannot be awarded to the men and officers for their patience 



APPENDIX 223 



and endurance during the march from Strawberry Plains, dragging 2 pieces of 
artillery a distance of 10 miles over rough, muddy roads, without a murmur. 

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

EDW. EERRERO, 
Brigadier General, Commanding. 
Capt. H. R. MIGHELS, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 



APPENDIX "E." 



WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN, 1864. 

I. Extracts from Report of General 0. B. Willcox, Commanding Division. 
II. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Brigade, 
May 4 to July 30. 

III. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Bryon M. Cutcheon, Commanding Twentieth 

Michigan Infantry, May 4 to August 7, 1864. 

IV. List of Casualties, Twentieth Michigan, May 4 to August 7, 1864. 

(Official Records, Vol. XXXVI, Part 1, Serial 67, Page 941.) 



REPORTS OF BRIGADIER GENERAL ORLANDO B. WILLCOX, U. S. 
ARMY, COMMANDING THIRD DIVISION. 

Hdqrs. Third Division. Ninth Army Corps. 
Before Petersburg, Va., September 13, 1864. 

Captain— As the full report of this division for the campaign is yet delayed by 
the brigade commanders not sending their own reports, I beg leave to furnish 
you with the following preliminary sketch of the operations of the Division : 

********** 

(Page 943.) On the 9th of May, I started, under orders from corps headquar- 
ters, about 4 a. m for a point called Gate, where the Fredericksburg and Spott- 
sylvania road crosses the Ny River, to take position, without orders to cross the 
river. Found the enemy's pickets one mile from the river, chased them back 
rapidly, seized the bridge, and crossed Christ's brigade, the Sixth Ohio, a new 
regiment, deployed as skirmishers. Planted my two batteries, Roemer's and 
Twitchell's, on the north side and took position on the crest of a slope on the 
opposite side, some 300 yards from the river, with left resting at one of the 
Beverly houses. The enemy opened upon me with a field battery, and charged 
first with a brigade of dismounted cavalry, and afterward with a brigade of 
Longstreet's corps. Meantime I moved over all of Hartranft's brigade, except 
the Second Michigan, and sent back for the First Division, which General 
Burnside had ordered up part way from Chancellorsville, to support me, but by 
12 m., and before the First Division arrived the enemy's repeated assaults were 
effectually repulsed, and he retired behind a narrow strip of woods toward 
Spottsylvania Court House, which was distant about a mile from front, leaving 
50 prisoners, included some wounded, in our hands. During the rest of the 



APPENDIX 225 



day I crossed two brigades of the First Division, retaining one as a reserve and 
to guard the fords, and held the position without further annoyance, except from 
skirmishers. The Seventeenth Michigan, Colonel Luce ; Twentieth Michigan, 
Lieutenant Colonel Cutcheon ; Seventy-ninth New York, Colonel Morrison, who 
was wounded ; and Sixtieth Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel McElroy, distinguished 
themselves in this affair, as well as Colonel Christ, commanding Second' Brigade. 
Casualties: Killed and wounded, 167; missing, 21; aggregate, 188. 

(Page 942.) June 2, the division moved to Bethesda Church. Observing 
that the First Division had left no pickets on the main road by which it had 
marched, I sent word of it to Major General Burnside, who directed me to 
send out pickets, and I ordered out the Twentieth Michigan. This regiment was 
not fairly posted, ere the enemy came down in force. The troops generally 
were not expecting or prepared for an attack, and the Twentieth Michigan 
bravely held the forks of the road until reinforced, and the troops were got 
into line fronting the enemy, when a fierce attack ensued, principally upon 
the First Division. 

June 3, at Bethesda Church in the morning we advanced in line from our 
intrenchments toward the enemy, and drove him from the line he had captured 
on the first to within 75 yards at one point, to 300 yards at another of the 
enemy's main works. The Fifth Corps troops came up on my left after this 
advance was made by my division. The Second Division, of the Ninth Corps, 
was on my right, and equally engaged. Preparations were made for a final 
assault, which, however, was countermanded. 

The enemy suffered very heavily and abandoned their ground during the 
night. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

O. B. WILLCOX, 
Brigadier General Commanding. 
Capt. J. C. YOUNGMAN, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 



EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF GENERAL ORLANDO B. WILLCOX, 
COMMANDING THIRD DIVISION. 

Ninth Army Corps. (Campaign of 1864.) 

(Official Records, Vol. XL. Part 1, Page 573.) 

Besides the regiments already mentioned, I would respectfully notice the 
Eighth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Ely; the Twentieth Michigan, 
Lieutenant Colonel Cutcheon, commanding, and the Twenty-seventh Michigan, 
Col. D. M. Fox. These regiments were always ready, brave, cool and stubborn 
in face of the enemy. The Fiftieth and Fifty-first Pennsylvania have also be- 
haved like veterans, meeting with bloody losses without discouragement, and 
always fighting gallantly. The One Hundred and Ninth New York and Twenty- 
15 



226 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



fourth New York Cavalry, although new regiments, exhibited throughout the 
steadiness and bravery of old troops. Many of my bravest officers have fallen 
on the fields of brightest glory. Col. F. Graves, Eighth Michigan. * * * 
Majors Lewis and Belcher, of the Eighth Michigan; Barnes, of the Twentieth; 
Piper, of the First (Michigan) Sharpshooters; and Moody, of the Twenty- 
seventh (Michigan), have won a proud niche in the temple of martyrs for 
their country's salvation. To the zealous, brave and skillful Roemer, and his 
excellent battery, and Twitchell and his fine battery, is due the soldiers' best 
possession — enduring fame. * * * 

The reports of General Hartranft, commanding First Brigade ; Lieutenant 
Colonel B. M. Cutcheon, commanding Second Brigade, and Captains Roemer 
and Twitchell, battery commanders, are herewith inclosed ; also nominal list 
of casualties. 

I have the honor to be. very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

O. B. WILLCOX, 
Brigadier General, Commanding. 
Maj. P. M. LYDIG, 

Assistant Adjutant General. 



("Official Records, Vol. XXXVI, Part i, Page 965; Vol. XL, Part 1, Page 584.) 

REPORTS OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY. 

Hdqrs. Second Brigade, 1st Div., 9th Army Corps, 

Near Poplar Spring Church, Va., Oct. 23d, 1864. 
Capt. John D. Bertolette, 

A. A. General, 1st Division, 9th A. C. 
Captain — In accordance with instructions from Headquarters, 1st Division, 
9th Army Corps, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part 
taken in the several actions of this campaign up to the 30th of July, 1864, by the 
several regiments of this Brigade. 

PRELIMINARY REMARKS. 

At the beginning of this campaign, this brigade, then the Second Brigade, 
Third Division, consisting of the followng named regiments, viz. : Seventy-ninth 
New York Volunteers, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, Twentieth 
Michigan Volunteer Infantry, the First Michigan Sharpshooters, and the Six- 
tieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 

On the 4th of May, the brigade marched from Warrenton Junction, but the 
Seventy-ninth New York and the Sixtieth Ohio were left as garrison, and did 
not rejoin until after the battle in the Wilderness. We crossed the Rapidan at 



APPENDIX 22? 



noon of May S) and took position on the right of the Army to cover the ford 
but did not become engaged on that day.* 

MARCH TO SPOTTSVI.VANIA. 

Before daylight of May 8. we withdrew from the Wilderness, and halted near 
he Old Tavern^ This bngade was detailed as rear guard of the army, and 
the Twentieth Michigan and Fiftieth Pennsylvania were rear guard to the 
bngade These two regiments moved abreast, the former left in front on the 
right of the road, and the latter right in front, on the left of the road, with a 
ection of artil ery between. Each regiment kept a company of skirmishers to 
the rear and thus we moved, ready to form line of battle at any moment, by 
filing right and eft, with the artillery in the center. The enemy followed a^ 
a short distance, but did not press us at all. 

That night we bivouacked on the plank road, three miles southeast of Chancel- 
lorsville Next morning, took the road in the following order: Sixtieth Ohio 
Twentieth Michigan, Fiftieth Pennsylvania, First Michigan Sharpshooters, and 
beventy-mnth New York. 

THE BATTLE OF NY RIVER. 

At about 9 o'clock am. we came in sight of Ny River, and a part of the 
Sixtieth Ohio was sent forward as skirmishers, with the remaining companies of 
hat regiment as reserve. Fifty men of the Twentieth Michigan were deployed on 
the right of the road under Captain McCollum, while the remainder of the regi- 
ment advanced m line, supported their own skirmishers, and the Sixtieth Ohio at 
a distance of about 150 yards. In this order we crossed the river and advanced 
almost to the crest of the hill with but little opposition. The skirmishers of 
the Sixtieth and Twentieth had already advanced to the woods beyond the 
crest. The reserve of the Sixtieth was at the crest. The Twentieth was in line 
on an old roadway, leading to the Gales House, and the balance of the brigade 
was still north of the river. s e 

At this juncture I sent a sergeant and a dozen men to take and hold the 
Gales House, as sharpshooters, and at the same time, by order of Colonel Christ 
I sent First Lieutenant C. A. Lounsberry with Company I (twenty-four men)' 
to take position behind a fence, on line with the Sixtieth Ohio, with orders to 
hold it until relieved. 

Such was the situation when the enemy attacked with a good deal of 
vigor advancing with a front of three regiments, on both sides of the road 
i he Sixtieth Ohio maintained its position with creditable determination es- 

r i a n 1 ^ when , ,t ; s consid ; r T ed that ; hey were just organized - ™* w* ™^. 

Seeing them hard pressed, I sent Company D of the Twentieth to their support 
on the right of the road, who came up very opportunely. The remainder of the 
brigade came up rapidly. The Fiftieth Pennsylvania w as thrown into position, 



228 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



on the right of the Twentieth and the First Sharpshooters on the left, while the 
Seventy-ninth New York took position near the Gales house. The First 
Sharpshooters was now thrown quickly forward to the position occupied by Lieu- 
tenant Lounsberry, who now formed on their left, while the Fiftieth was in like 
manner advanced to the position where I had posted Company D of the Twen- 
tieth. The fight now became quite sharp. When the enemy charged, the First 
Sharpshooters, through some misapprehension, or other cause, broke and fell 
back in much confusion, and was rallied with difficulty. Lieutenant Lounsberry, 
however, with his company of the Twentieth, still maintained the position which 
the First Sharpshooters had left, and did not leave it until the Seventy-ninth 
New York charged in gallant style, driving back the enemy, and the First Sharp- 
shooters had been rallied and returned to their position. 

He then reported to his regiment with a loss of four men. At about the 
same moment that the First Sharpshooters fell back, the Sixtieth Ohio fell 
back also, after a stubborn fight, and thus the whole weight of the attack on the 
right of the road fell upon the Fiftieth Pennsylvania. This regiment held its 
ground for a few minutes but finally, the whole left wing, with Lieutenant 
Colonel Overton, fell back under the crest. The Twentieth Michigan still lay 
in reserve, but was becoming engaged. At this moment reverse seemed im- 
minent. The First Sharpshooters and Sixtieth Ohio had been broken and were 
a good deal scattered (though Colonel McElroy had rallied a few of his 
men, upon the left of the Twentieth) and the left of the Fiftieth was forced 
back. 

It was here that the bravery of one man was most conspicuous and did much 
to avert disaster. Captain Samuel Schwenk, Fiftieth Pennsylvania, took com- 
mand of the four right companies of that regiment, and, charging with the bayo- 
net, he drove back the enemy, just as the Twentieth Michigan came up on the 
double quick to his support, and the right was restored on the crest. At the same 
moment the Seventeenth Michigan dashed up the road, and the Seventy-ninth 
New York, Colonel Morrison commanding, charged in front of the Gales House, 
and the enemy was repulsed all along the line. We occupied the crest, and 
during the afternoon fortified it as best we could. 

Thus this division gained a foothold nearer Spottsylvania Court House than 
any other part of the line. 

THE BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 

May ioth and 12th. 

May 10, 1864, our brigade remained in the position they had taken on the 
previous day; the Twentieth Michigan and Fiftieth Pennsylvania on the right 
of the road, and the Seventy-ninth New York, First Michigan Sharpshooters 
and Sixtieth Ohio on the left of the same. The day was chiefly occupied 
in strengthening our position. 

At 6 o'clock p. m. the troops moved out of the works, and advanced, on a 
•general right wheel, the Fifty-first Pennsylvania forming the right, and act- 



APPENDIX 229 



ing as a pivot. In the advance we encountered comparatively slight resistance, 
and our losses were quite slight. In the advance the undersigned received a 
wound which kept him from the field until the early part of July, and the fol- 
lowing report is made up from the best data at hand. 

Having constructed breastworks during the night of the 10th, the troops re- 
mained quiet behind them until near night of the nth, when they were with- 
drawn behind the Ny, to re-establish the line, but before morning of the 12th 
they again occupied the south bank of the river, preparatory to the general 
assault of that day. During the morning, the brigade bore no active part, 
except as a supporting column. On the morning of this day, the Seventy-ninth 
New York had been ordered to report as Corps Headquarters to be mustered 
out, their term of services having expired. At the same time Colonel Humphrey, 
Second Michigan, was assigned to the command of the brigade. 

About the middle of the afternoon, the brigade was moved into position to 
take part in the assault. The brigade was posted in the second line, support- 
ing the First Brigade, General Hartranft, commanding, and in the following 
order from right to left : First Michigan Sharpshooters, Twentieth Michigan, 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania. The Sixtieth Ohio was temporarily acting with Colonel 
Marshall's Provisional Brigade, deployed as skirmishers to protect the left 
flank. The Second Michigan was detached, supporting Wright's battery, on the 
Spottsylvania road. 

All things being in readiness, the charge was ordered. On the right, in 
front of the First Sharpshooters, the ground was covered with a bushy small 
growth of trees, which concealed the movement of the line. On the left, in 
front of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania was a dense growth of pine timber, difficult 
to pass in line of battle, but in front of the Twentieth Michigan was a strip or 
belt of perfectly open ground, extending up, quite to the enemy's works. 
The advance was gallantly made, the line advancing about 200 yards, under 
the most terrific fire of shell, canister and musketry. Under this fire the first 
line was soon checked, and melted away. The second line, however, with 
such of the first as joined it in the advance, pushed forward rapidly, and 
steadily, until within a short distance of the enemy's works. The First Michigan 
Sharpshooters reached a hastily constructed breastwork of rails which the 
enemy had thrown up as a shelter for their skirmishers, and this they occupied 
jointly with the Twenty-seventh Michigan of the First Brigade. The order 
was now given to halt, and lie down. The Twentieth Michigan, owing to the 
openness of the ground over which they had to move, advanced faster and 
farther than the others, suffering severely, losing almost one-half of their num- 
ber in a few moments. Besides they could get no cover where they lay, there 
being only a "dead furrow" a foot or thereabouts in height to protect them. 
The Fiftieth Pennsylvania, on account of the thickness of the woods, were 
unable to keep up with the Twentieth except one company on the right, 
under Captain Schwenk, who again behaved with the most conspicuous gal- 
lantry. During the few minutes that the brigade lay in this position, a brigade 
of the enemy had passed around our left and charged with the purpose of 



23 o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



capturing the batteries supported by the Second Michigan. The account of 
the charge on the batteries and its repulse, I give in the words of Colonel Hum- 
phrey himself : 

"At the same time the enemy charged these batteries from the woods, in two 
columns of a brigade each. The one emerging from a point immediately in front 
of our batteries, and the other from a point ioo yards to our left. The section 
of the Nineteenth New York Battery was the object of the direct attack of 
the enemy, and it was but a few moments before nearly every man belonging 
to the section was either killed or wounded, and the pieces ceased firing. The 
enemy was rapidly advancing, and were within ten paces of the guns. The 
advance of the enemy was checked, and after a short and severe contest the 
first column was repulsed with considerable loss to the enemy. The guns 
were then turned on the column approaching from the left, and that too was 
quickly repulsed. You will pardon me for calling attention to the conduct of 
the officers and men of the regiment (Second Michigan) on this occasion. 
Attacked by a force vastly superior, "they not only maintained their ground, but 
repulsed two columns of the enemy so completely, that he was unable to take 
advantage of a serious repulse of a part of our own lines, at about the same time. 
The value of the service performed by the regiment on this occasion is seen 
from the fact that if the few men forming it had given away, these batteries 
would have been lost; our left completely turned, and the most serious conse- 
quences might have followed." * * * 

It was this assaulting column of the enemy that in returning from the attack, 
struck the division in the flank. They first came in contact with the Seven- 
teenth Michigan, a large portion of which they captured. They next struck the 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers on the left of this brigade, and doubling 
them up in the thick pine woods, succeeded in making prisoners of about ioo of 
them also. A small portion of them, however, rallying around their colors, gal- 
lantly fought their way out, contending hand to hand in many instances, with 
bayonets and butts of guns. Captain Schwenk with his company, joined the 
troops on his right, and maintained his position to the last. All this tran- 
spired in less time than it can be written. Pending this melee in the woods. 
Major Geo. C. Barnes, commanding the Twentieth Michigan, discovered that the 
enemy was closing up on his rear, and unless he took immediate steps to 
prevent it, he would be captured entire. He therefore moved rapidly, by the 
left flank, into the woods, and filing to the left, brought his regiment facing 
to the left flank. He found himself confronted by the disorganized fragments of 
two rebel brigades, and almost entirely surrounded. With the men about him, 
however, he attacked boldly and cut his way out, with a loss of only 30 missing, 
most of whom have since been found to have been wounded. 

Major Barnes behaved with the most reckless bravery, exposing himself where 
it seemed impossible for man to live, encouraging and steadying his men, 
regardless of danger. He deserves most honorable mention. He has since fallen 
at his post. The regiment at large did all that men could do under the cir- 
cumstances, and most of them were, at some stage of the fight, prisoners, and 
some were captured and recaptured several times. 



APPENDIX 231 



While this was transacting with the other regiments, the First Sharpshooters 
were holding their position with great obstinacy, and as the flank attack did not 
reach them they were the last to retire. On this occasion they cancelled the 
unfortunate record they made on the 9th at Ny River. 

Both the attack of the enemy and our own had now been repulsed. The lines 
were drawn back and re-established, and after this most bloody day, the troops 
rested upon their arms. 

On the evening of the 16th of June, the brigade appeared in front of Peters- 
burg, and moved into position. 

BATTLE OF PETERSBURG. 

On the 17th of June the brigade took position in a ravine in front of the 
enemy's second line, which they had hastily constructed during the night of the 
16th. When the charge was ordered, the First Brigade, which was upon the 
left of this brigade, by some means took the wrong point of direction, and in- 
stead of moving against the enemy's works, they swept past in front of them, 
receiving their full fire. Perceiving this miscarriage, Colonel Christ, command- 
ing this brigade, ordered it to halt at the crest of a hill and throw up a 
slight breastworks, which they did. 

Later in the day, the First Division charged and carried the works. The 
Sixtieth Ohio was then ordered forward to fill the space between the First 
Division and the Second Corps, which it did, but the space was so great and the 
regiment so small, that it formed a very weak line. 

Still later the First Division was dislodged from the position they had gained, 
and the Sixtieth Ohio was obliged to fall back with them. After dark, the 
First Michigan Sharpshooters, Captain Levant C. Rhines, commanding, was 
ordered to charge upon the angle of the enemy's works, which they did in most 
gallant style, capturing the works, with 3 officers, 86 enlisted men, and a stand 
of colors, which were sent to the rear. 

The enemy, however, were not disposed to yield the point, and soon returned 
to the fight, which now became a fierce, hand-to-hand conflict, in which Captain 
Rhines, who had displayed the greatest gallantry, lost his life. The remnant 
of the regiment soon found itself surrounded by superior numbers, and the 
adjutant with 77 men surrendered, prisoners of war. The national colors of the 
regiment were destroyed by the men, and the pieces divided among them, rather 
than surrender them to the enemy. As a brigade the command was not actively 
engaged on this day. 

June 18, at daylight, it was found that the enemy had retired during the night, 
and taken up a new line on the Cemetery Hill, beyond the Suffolk railroad. 
The brigade advanced in line of battle through a thick belt of pine timber and 
emerged into an open field of grain sloping gradually toward the Suffolk railroad 
and the enemy's works. The Sixtieth Ohio was deployed as skirmishers 
facing to the right to protect that flank. The remnant of the First Michigan 
Sharpshooters was engaged in the throwing up works for Roemer's battery near 
the edge of the above mentioned belt of timber. About one-half of the Fif- 



232 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



tieth Pennsylvania was also employed as flankers on the right. The remainder 
of the brigade charged in line for a quarter of a mile, across the open field, 
suffering severely from a galling fire from a very long line of the enemy's rifle 
pits. The railroad cut was reached, but it afforded no shelter, for it was enfiladed 
by a storm of bullets. The men attempted to climb out of this cut, but only to be 
mercilessly shot down and to fall back among their comrades. The loss at this 
point was severe. Toward evening another advance was made, which was 
pushed to within 150 yards of the enemy's line. Here the men constructed slight 
works for their protection, and before morning the brigade was relieved and 
moved to the rear. 

In the charge of the 18th, on the Suffolk railroad, Major George C. Barnes, 
commanding Twentieth Michigan, fell mortally wounded. He was an officer of 
chivalrous bravery, and I have had occasion to mention his valuable services more 
than once. 

He was a born soldier and he died like a true soldier, leading his command. 
During this action Colonel Christ, commanding the brigade, was severely 
wounded, when the command devolved upon Colonel Raulston, Twenty-fourth 
New York Cavalry, who was also wounded soon after. Lieutenant Colonel 
Travers, Forty-sixth New York, then took command, but he, too, was soon 
wounded, when Lieutenant Colonel Newberry, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, 
became the senior officer present. He remained in command until morning of 
the 19th, when Colonel William Humphrey, Second Michigan, was assigned to 
the command, and his regiment was attached to the brigade, of which it still 
constitutes a valuable part. 

On the 20th of June the brigade moved to the right and relieved some part of 
the Second Corps, in which position it remained until the 25th of June, when it 
moved back to the left and took position, with its right resting on the Suffolk 
road, which place it continued to occupy until the 27th of July, when it was 
withdrawn and placed in reserve. 

The great losses which the brigade suffered during this period will sufficiently 
attest its great services without any praise from me. If it has not been the good 
fortune of the command to accomplish any remarkable or brilliant feats of arms, 
it has not been because the men have not been true and reliable or the officers 
brave and efficient. 

Such, Captain, is the best report I have been able to compile from the mater- 
ials at hand. I have prepared it in the midst of a multitude of duties and under 
great embarrassments from the fact that during the greater part of the operations 
I was myself absent, wounded. It has also been prepared from secondary reports 
made by officers not at the time in actual command of the several regiments, the 
original reports having been taken away by Colonel Humphrey when he was 
mustered out. A more full and perfect report may be expected from him at some 
future day. Accompanying this is a list of casualties for the period covered. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 
Capt. John D. Bertolotte, 

Assistant Adjutant General, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. 



APPENDIX 233 



(Official Records, Vol. XXXVI, Part 1, Page 975- ) 



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, TWEN- 
TIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY. 

Headquarters Twentieth Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. 

Before Petersburg, Va., August 7, 1864. 

Captain— In obedience to general orders, No. 19, headquarters Second Brigade, 
Third Division, Ninth Army Corps, August 7. 1864, I have the honor to make 
the following report of the operations of this campaign : 

FIRST-EPOCH. 

We marched from Warrenton Junction, Va., on the morning of May 4, crossed 
the Rappahannock the same evening, and bivouacked near Rappahannock Station 
that night. 

May 5th we marched at daylight and reached Germanna Ford at 11 a. m. At 
12 m. we crossed the river and took position on the right of the army in the 
woods, throwing forward a strong picket line. At dark our pickets were relieved 
by the One Hundred and Ninth New York and the three regiments of this 
brigade— Twentieth Michigan, Fiftieth Pennsylvania and First Michigan Sharp- 
shooters—assembled on the road as a reserve. We slept upon our arms that 
night. May 6th we marched at 3 a. m., and marched rapidly up the plank road 
until we came to the Wilderness Run, when we took a by-road to the right of 
the Run, and entered a dense piece of woods. A delay of an hour occurred 
in getting out skirmishers. We then moved through the pine woods to an open 
field, and keeping in the woods to the north (right) of this, formed along a 
fence in battle 'line and faced by the rear rank and threw out skirmishers to the 
rear. We occupied this position until near noon, when the enemy opened upon 
us a severe fire from a battery on a ridge. 

May 7, at daylight, I pushed out my skirmish line and found that the enemy 
had retired. We occupied their line with our skirmishers and sent odt a scout, 
who found the enemy's skirmishers half a mile in front. We occupied the 
morning in building strong breastworks. We brought in quite a number of 
rebel wounded. During the day we collected about 300 stands of arms from the 
field, mostly in good condition, which we carried to the rear. 

Toward night we moved toward the right, brigade-distance, and occupied the 
line from which the First Brigade had been moved, and again threw up breast- 
works. We lay upon our arms that night. See list of casualties in the first 
epoch in appendix to this report. 

SECOND EPOCH. 

May 8, 1864, we withdrew from our works in the Wilderness at about 2 a. m., 
and having reached the open country, near Wilderness Tavern, waited for day- 



234 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



light. A halt of considerable length became necessary to allow the trains to get 
upon the road. 

We took the road at about 8 a. m., at which time the enemy's skirmishers 
emerged from the woods. A detachment of cavalry formed the rear guard, 
supported by the Fiftieth Pennsylvania and Twentieth Michigan, and a section 
of artillery. The Fiftieth marched right in front, and the Twentieth left in 
front, the two regiments abreast, ready to file right and left at any moment, and 
form line of battle. Each regiment kept one company out to the rear as skir- 
mishers. The enemy followed in sight lo pick up stragglers, but made no 
attack. We marched in this order until we reached Chancellorsville, when our 
brigade passed to the front. 

We bivouacked that night about three miles southeast from Chancellorsville, 
on the plank road. 

May 9 we took the road at about 4 a. m., the Sixtieth Ohio preceding and the 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania, First Michigan Sharpshooters and Seventy-ninth New 
York following. At about 10 a. m., arrived in sight of the River Ny. Detached 
thirty men as skirmishers on the right of the road under Captain McCollum, 
while the Sixtieth Ohio advanced skirmishers on the left, the main body of 
the Twentieth Michigan supported the skirmishers at a distance of 150 yards; 
the skirmishers forced their way across the Ny, and we moved nearly to the 
crest of the hill with slight opposition. This regiment was in reserve across the 
road in an old roadway and gully, the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Sixtieth Ohio and 
First Michigan Sharpshooters froming the first line, when the Sixtieth Ohio 
was forced back and the First Michigan Sharpshooters gave way. The Twen- 
tieth checked the advance of the enemy, and these regiments rallied upon our 
left. The Seventeenth Michigan dashed up the road, passing through our lines. 
We were ordered now to move forward, and assisted in driving the enemy back. 
The line being partly restored, the Twentieth went on the double-quick to the 
support of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania, forming upon their right. I should have 
stated that before the balance of the brigade came up, I had sent Company I, 
Lieutenant C. A. Lounsberry, commanding, to occupy the position afterward 
occupied by the First Michigan Sharpshooters. 

When that regiment fell back, Lieutenant Lounsberry held his ground, and 
with the assistance of the Seventy-ninth New York, which came up on his left, 
repulsed the attack of the enemy. When the First Sharpshooters resumed their 
position in line, Lieutenant Lounsberry reported back to his regiment. Being 
upon the extreme right of the line, I deployed skirmishers 300 yards to my 
right, and occupied a large house in my front with a company of sharpshooters. 
The balance of the day was occupied in constructing breastworks. 

May 10 — The morning was occupied in strengthening our works. A strong 
and vigilant skirmish line was kept out. About 3 p. m., received orders to 
be ready to attack at 5 p. m. ; made preparations accordingly. At about 6 p. m., 
having thrown forward a strong skirmish line, supported by a second, the line 
advanced. Being the right, which was the pivot, the regiment did not move far. 

In this advance the undersigned received a wound, which kept him from the 
command until the early part of July. The command then devolved upon Major 



APPENDIX 235 



George C. Barnes, who fell mortally wounded in the charge of June 18, near this 
place. The following report is made by Major C. B. Grant, his successor: 

"May 12 — The regiment participated in the attack upon the enemy's works at 
Spottsylvania Court House, advancing over an open space between two belts of 
timber. The enemy getting upon our flank and in our way under cover of the 
wood on our left — the troops on our left having given away — Major George C. 
Barnes, then commanding, moved the regiment by the left flank into the woods. 

Here we were met by a rebel brigade, returning from an ineffectual charge 
upon our batteries, and a hand-to-hand conflict ensued, by which we fought 
our way out of the woods and brought off our colors in safety and captured a 
few prisoners." 

May 19 — Moved two miles to the west and constructed heavy breastworks, 
which we occupied until the 21st. 

The following is a list of casualities during the second epoch, among whom are 
several brave, intelligent and valuable officers : Four officers and thirteen men 
killed, three officers and ninety-two men wounded and thirty-one men missing; 
total 143. 

During this period our losses amounted to about one-half our effective strength. 

third epoch. 

On the 21 st of Alay we left our entrenchments near Spottsylvania Court 
House, and marching that night, we reached Bowling Green about 8 a. m. on 
the 22nd. Resuming the march at 10 a. m., we reached the North Anna River 
on the evening of the 23d of May. On the 24th of May the regiment was de- 
tailed to lead the charge of the division across the ford of the North Anna, but 
the order being countermanded, we took up position on the north bank of the 
stream and threw up breastworks. This position the regiment occupied until the 
morning of the 27th of May, acting as sharpshooters and keeping a battery on the 
other side of the river silent. This ends the third epoch. 

See list of casualities during the third epoch in appendix to this report. 

FOURTH EPOCH. 

On the morning of May 27 we took up the line of march, and marching almost 
constantly, crossed the Pamunkey River at midnight on the 28th and bivouacked 
on the south bank. At 4 a. m., May 29, we moved into position. At 6 a. m., 
May 30, moved to the left flank and took up another position, which we forti- 
fied. On the 31st we moved to the right again and were in supporting line. 

June 1— Moved a short distance to the left and threw up rifle-pits. June 2, 
while the corps was in the act of retiring, this regiment was sent out at about 
5 p. m. to picket and hold two roads a short distance beyond their junction. 
While we were in the act of deploying, the enemy attacked us in force. After 
holding them in check as long as possible we were obliged to retire behind a 
line of breastworks. Here the enemy attacked us soon after dark, but we re- 
pulsed the attack and held the position. At midnight, the troops on our right 
and left having been withdrawn, we moved to the right and joined the Second 



236 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Division, Ninth Army Corps, where we remained until morning. June 3 we 
were in the second line supporting the First Brigade, but suffered severely. June 
4 moved about two miles to the left and took position near Cold Harbor, reliev- 
ing a part of the Second Army Corps. Remained in this position until June 12. 
See list of casualties for fourth epoch in appendix to this report. 

(Vol. XL, Part 1. Page 588.) 

FIFTH EPOCH. 

June 12 — We withdrew from Cold Harbor, bringing up the rear of the divi- 
sion as rearguard, which duty we performed up to 11 p m. of the 13th of June. 
Readied James River at 6:30 p. m. of the 14th and sent out seventy-five men on 
picket. On the 15th crossed the James River, marched all night, and took up 
position in front of Petersburg. At 7 p. m. on the 16th sent out ninety men as 
skirmishers. 

On the 17th of June we supported the charge of the First Brigade, suffering 
but slight loss. 

On the 18th of June the regiment made a charge across a wide, open field and 
through a deep cut on the Suffolk railroad, suffering very severely from a gall- 
ing cross fire; then charged again from the railroad up to within 160 yards 
of the enemy's works and threw up rifle-pits. Our loss on this day was about 
one-half of the effective force engaged. About midnight the regiment was with- 
drawn from the front and lay in reserve, where it remained until the 20th of 
June, when it again moved into the trenches." 

This completes the report of Major Grant. 

The regiment remained in the trenches until July 25, without relief. On the 
25th we were withdrawn to the rear, where we rested two days, and on the 27th 
of July we moved two miles and a half to the left and rear of the Suffolk Rail- 
road. We were occupied with the picket duty until the evening of the 29th, 
when we again returned to the front, bivouacking near the headquarters of the 
Fifth Army Corps. 

For the operations of this command in the assault upon the enemy's lines be- 
fore Petersburg on the 30th and the operations on the 31st, I respectfully refer 
to my report forwarded on the 3d instant, and the list of casualties appended. 
The following is the list of casualties during the operations around Petersburg. 

I cannot close this too lengthy report without at least an allusion to the con- 
duct of the officers and men of this command. It is only necessary to state that 
at all times and under all emergencies they have discharged their duties faith- 
fully, gallantly and uncomplainingly. Our casualties have been greater in num- 
ber than the number of muskets we carried at the beginning of the campaign. 
We entered the campaign with twenty-two officers; of these, a major, three cap- 
tains and four lieutenants have been killed; the colonel commanding, three cap- 
tains and three lieutenants wounded, and a captain and lieutenant missing; total 
loss of officers, 17. 

Among so many gallant officers it is impossible to speak of all who merit it, 
whether living or dead, but I must make an exception in favor of Major George 



APPENDIX 



237 



C. Barnes, who fell gallantly leading his regiment in the charge of June 18. 
He was a brave, intelligent, and thoroughly reliable officer, often tried and never 
found wanting. Also Major (late Captain) Grant, who assumed command on 
the death of Major Barnes, of whom all may be said that has been said of the 
latter. One other man deserves special mention. Color Sergeant Alexander 
Bush, after having carried his colors with the greatest bravery in every action 
of the campaign, was reported wounded and missing after the assault of the 
30th of July; his commission as first lieutenant came two days too late to 
reward his gallantry. In short, the command has honored every call upon it, 
and only ninety-one effective men now remain in the ranks. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieut. Col., Comdg. Twentieth Michigan Regt., Michigan Vol. Infantry. 
Captain Thomas Mathews, 

Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., Third Div., Ninth Army Corps. 



APPENDIX. 



Recapitulation of Casualties. (Twentieth Michigan.) 





Place. 


Killed. 


Wound- 
ed. 


Missing. 


Died of 
wounds 


Total. 


V 


Epoch. 


«5 

4) 
O 

6 
O 


a 

4> 

S 


CO 

u 

<D 
W 

s 



a 

V 

a 

5 

79 

2 

36 
69 

191 


DB 

t-c 
CD 
<S 
S 
O 


a 

4> 

2 

2 
31 


09 

0) 



Q 
O 


a 
o> 

1 

13 
1 
3 
9 

27 


09 

0> 

u 

S 
O 

'.7 

3 
6 

16 


a 

4) 

% 

8 
13fi 

5 
53 
115 

317 


G3 
bo 

V 
u 

t£ 

bo 
< 






8 


Second 


Sp.>ttsylvania Court House 


4 


13 
2 

5 

18 

38 


3 
.... 

2 
6 


143 
5 








1 
1 

2 


9 
19 

61 


1 

1 


56 


Fifth 




3 

7 


121 








Totals 


333 







B. M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Volunteers. 



APPENDIX "F.' 



PETERSBURG CAMPAIGN, 1864. 

I. Report of Colonel William Humphrey, Commanding Brigade, of Assault 
on the Crater, July 30, 1864. 
II. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Brig- 
ade, of assault on the Crater, July .30, 1864. 

III. List of casualties in the Michigan Regiment of the (Crater) Brigade, 

July 1 to July 31. 

IV. Itinerary of Second Brigade, June 15 to July 31. 

V. Report of Colonel William Humphrey, Commanding Brigade, August 
19-21 (Weldon Railroad). 
VI. Report of Brigadier General J. F. Hartranft, Commanding Brigade, 
September 30 to October 17, 1864 (Poplar Springs Church). 
VII. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Regi- 
ment, August 20 and 21, 1864. 
VIII. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Regi- 
ment, September 30 to October 8, 1864 (Peeble's Farm). 
IX. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Commanding Brig- 
ade, October 27 and 28, 1864 (Hatcher's Run). 
X. Itinerary Second Brigade, August 1 to December 13, 1864. 
XL Organization Second Brigade, August 1 to December 13, 1864. 
XII. Election Returns, November 8, 1864. 

XIII. Report on Recommendation for Brevets. 

XIV. Order Assigning Regiments to Positions on the Line. 
XV. Special Order Assigning Officers to Duty in Brevet Rank. 

XVI. Organization Second Brigade, December 31, 1864. 

XVII. Letter of Major General Parke recommending Promotions. 

(Official Records, Vol. XL, Part 1, Page 586.) 



REPORT OF COLONEL WILLIAM HUMPHREY, SECOND MICHIGAN 
INFANTRY, COxMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE, OF OPERA- 
TIONS JULY 30. 

Hdqrs. Second Brigade, Third Div., Ninth Army Corps.. 
Before Petersburg, Va., August 4, 1864. 

Captain — I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of 
my command during the action of July 30: 



APPENDIX 239 



According to orders from the general commanding the division, I moved the 
brigade into the covered way leading by the right of Roemer's battery to the 
front before daylight of the morning of the 30th. I was to hold my command 
here until the First Brigade, General Hartranft commanding, which I was to fol- 
low in the attack, should move forward from the ground on which it was then 
formed, then to move to and form on the ground it should leave. 

This being done I was to follow General Hartranft in his movement as closely 
as possible, and after passing through the enemy's line of works to take position 
to his right, forming the connection between him and the left of the First 
Division. These instructions were promptly carried out so far as circumstances 
would permit. 

As soon as the advance commenced I moved my command forward, and as 
fast as the regiments of the First Brigade were advanced, formed in column of 
battalions on the ground thus cleared. This was at 5:15 a. m., but the whole 
of the First Brigade was not moved beyond our pits, hence I could follow my 
previous instructions no further. But wishing to assist the troops occupying the 
captured redoubt, I requested permission to form the brigade in line behind our 
work for a charge on the pits. The line was formed with its right opposite to 
the left of that part of the enemy's line then held by our own men, the left rest- 
ing on the road. 

The regiments were placed from right to left in the following order, viz.: 
First Michigan Sharpshooters, Second and Twentieth Michigan Infantry, Forty- 
Sixth New York and Fiftieth Pennsylvania Infantry, with the Sixtieth Ohio 
Infantry and Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry (dismounted) in rear of the 
Forty-sixth New York and Fiftieth Pennsylvania. At 8 a. m., the three regi- 
ments on the right of the line charged across the field as directed, taking the pits 
in their front and the men by whom they were occupied. 

After clearing our pits, the Forty-sixth New York hesitated, lost the connec- 
tion with the regiment on its right, broke, and crowded through and carried 
with it the regiment on its left to the road. These regiments were afterwards 
put in the pits forming our front line, where they remain to this time. This 
charge so far as the instructions were carried out was a success, and had it not 
been for the causeless breaking of the Forty-sixth New York, there is no doubt 
but the whole line would have been carried and the troops occupying it cap- 
tured, and the achievement of the object for which we set out in the morning 
rendered more than probable. 

The regiments that reached the enemy's works helped hold these works against 
the three assaults of the enemy, and were among the last to obey the order to 
retire at 2 130 p. m. As I have already forwarded you reports of the losses they 
need not be reported here. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

WILLIAM HUMPHREY, 

Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 

Captain Robert A. Hutchins, 

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Ninth Army Corps. 



240 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



(Official Records, Vol. XL, Part i. Page 590) 

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, TWEN- 
TIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY. 

Headquarters Twentieth Michigan Infantry, 
Before Petersburg, Va., August 3, 1864. 
Captain— In obedience to circular of this date, I have the honor to make the 
following report of the operations of this regiment in the action of July 30, 

1864 : 

We left the bivouac at about 4 a. m., having left knapsacks under guard, and 
halted in the covered way near Roemer's battery. When the mine was sprung 
we advanced at the double-quick and formed in the brigade column in rear of 
our works, the regiment being the third battalion in the column. We lost sev- 
eral men before the charge was made At 8 -.30 a. m., we formed in the trenches 
for the charge, the Second Michigan on our right and the Forty-sixth New York 
on our left. We were ordered to follow and be guided by the movements of the 
regiment upon our right. The regiment on our right moved by the right flank, 
on the double-quick, toward the fort, and I led my regiment in the same direc- 
tion. 

Seeing that great numbers of men were crowded behind the fort, I moved by 
the left flank, and threw my regiment upon the enemy's rifle-pits to the left of 
the fort. The enemy occupying the pit surrendered to the number of between 
30 and 40, including two commissioned officers, to my certain knowledge. When 
the first rebel counter-charge was made I moved my command over the rebel 
rifle-pit and into the left of the fort, or battery, which part was only slightly in- 
jured, and planted our colors beyond the fort. When the stampede of the 
troops took place my command did not participate beyond a very few men who 
were carried away in the rush. 

This regiment participated actively in repulsing the rebel charge, both in the 
forenoon and afternoon, behaving with gallantry and coolness. All the men of 
the command participated in the charge except some half a dozen, against whom 
I have directed charges to be preferred. A few of the men being lost in getting 
over the breastworks, went to the left with the Forty-sixth New York regi- 
ment, and again returned to our lines; one officer also being delayed in getting 
his men over, made the same mistake and went with the Forty-sixth New York 
into the ravine to the left. All the rest of the officers and men went into the 
enemy's works and remained till afternoon. At about 1 :30 p. m. I came back to 
our lines to endeavor to obtain water and ammunition for the men, and also to 
try and get a gun silenced that was enfilading us from the battery on the left. 
I did this by permission of Brigadier General Hartranft, who was near me. 
Before I could return, the last charge was made and nearly all our forces came 
back. It was some time before I learned that any part of my command was 
still in the rebel fort, but I learned at about 3 p. m. that our colors were still 
flying on their works, defended by about thirty men of my command; of these, 



APPENDIX 241 



about ten made their escape and the remainder were taken, among them, all 
that remained of the color guard, of whom only two remained uninjured. So 
far as I can learn, the colors of the Twentieth and Second Michigan were the 
last displayed on the rebel fort. After the withdrawal of our forces, I assem- 
bled the remnant of my command and was assigned to a position in the trenches 
adjacent to the Eighteenth Corps, where we remained till the 1st of August. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Infantry. 
Captain Thomas Mathews. 

Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., Third Div., Ninth Army Corps. 

(Official Records, Vol. XL, Part 1, Page 199.) 



ITINERARY, SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, COMMANDED 
BY COLONEL WILLIAM HUMPHREY, SECOND MICHIGAN 

INFANTRY. 

June 15 — Crossed the James River at night. 

June 16 — About noon arrived in front of Petersburg. 

June 17 — Participated in the charge made by the division. 

June 18 — Were engaged again, losing heavily. Colonel Christ, commanding 
brigade, was wounded, when the command was assumed by Colonel Raulston, 
Twenty-fourth New York (dismounted) Cavalry. He was wounded also, and 
Colonel William Humphrey, Second Michigan Volunteers, was assigned to the 
command on the 19th, by order of General Willcox, commanding division. The 
Second Michigan Volunteers was transferred from the First to this brigade the 
same day. 

Since the 19th the brigade has been in the trenches in front of Petersburg. 
No general engagement has taken place. 

July 1 — Occupied the advance line on the extreme left of the Ninth Corps 
line in front of Petersburg. Remained here, nothing occurring worthy of note, 
until the 25th. 

July 25 — The brigade relieved by a part of the First Brigade, Third Division, 
and a part of the First Brigade, Fourth Division, moved to the rear a short 
distance and encamped in the open field. 

July 27 — Received orders to report to Brigadier General White, commanding 
Fourth Division ; marched to the extreme left of our line and occupied a posi- 
tion, our left resting on the old Norfolk road. 

July 29 — Orders were received to recall pickets and be ready to march at 
dark. Moved at 9 p. m. toward our old position and halted near the headquarters 
of the Fifth Corps from 10:30 o'clock until about 3 a. m. next morning, when we 
moved toward the front. 

July 30 — Participated in the assault on the enemy's line in front of Peters- 
burg; made one charge which was partially successful. The loss of the brigade 
16 



242 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



on this day was : Killed, two commissioned officers and fourteen enlisted men ; 
wounded, thirteen commissioned officers and ninety-nine enlisted men; missing, 
five commissioned officers and eighty-five enlisted men; aggregate loss, 218. 

j u l y 3 i_Occupy the front line, formerly held by the First Brigade of this 
division, excepting the First, Second and Twentieth Michigan Regiments, which 
have been relieved, having suffered severely in yesterday's engagement. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLII, Part 1, Serial 87, Page 565) 

REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL JOHN F. HARTRANFT, U. S. 

ARMY, COMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE, OF OPERATIONS 

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 8. 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
October 17, 1864. 
Captain— I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders from the 
general commanding the division, my command moved from the Gurley house 
about 10 a. m. on the 30th of September, following the Second Division. We 
took the road passing Poplar Grove Church. Soon after passing the Peeble's 
house, formed in line of battle, facing to the left and westward, in the following 
order from the right: First Michigan Sharpshooters, Colonel C. V. De Land; 
Second Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel E. J- March; Fiftieth Pennsylvania, Cap- 
tain G. W. Brumm; Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, Colonel W. C. Rauls- 
ton; Forty-sixth New York, Captain Adolph Becker; Sixtieth Ohio, Lieutenant 
Colonel M. P. Avery, and Twentieth Michigan, Lieutenant Colonel B. M. Cut- 
cheon. The brigade was moved forward, in accordance with orders, for the pur- 
pose of establishing a line from the left of the Second Division to the Clements 
House. After passing the low ground and reaching the woods, I sent Lieutenant 
Colonel Cutcheon with the Twentieth and Second Michigan Regiments to the 
Clements house to guard the road, and feel by scouts for the left of the Second 
Division. After he had reached the house and sent out scouts, but before they 
had found the left of the Second Division, orders were received to withdraw 
the command and move to the right. Moved up beyond the Pegram house and 
formed in line facing westward and at right angles to that of the Second Divi- 
sion, with my right just east of and close to Doctor Boisseau's house, with 
orders to protect the left of General Potter's division. Immediately in front 
of the left of my line, I found a swamp, almost impassible. The course of the 
stream running through it was about southeast. From the right of my line to 
this swamp, was a space of about 200 yards. About 1,000 yards to the front 
and westward of my line were works of the enemy, occupied by some cavalry, 
but no artillery or infantry were shown. I established a skirmish line on a little 
crest beyond the swamp referred to. When the Second Division moved forward, 
I moved the brigade by the right flank, preserving the formation. After the 
left of Potter's division had passed into the woods they commenced extending 
their left, throwing it into the open field beyond the Boisseau house and about 



APPENDIX 243 



300 yards in advance. I then changed front, forming line of battle parallel to 
the Second Division line, my right being immediately in advance of the Boisseau 
house, and about 150 yards distant, the left resting on the swamp. This line 
in respect to the Second Division was in echelon, and a portion of the right was 
covered by the Second Division. On our right the firing became very heavy. 
The Thirty-sixth and Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regiments came to the rear in 
confusion. I attempted to rally and put them in position on the right of my line. 
We succeeded in halting these regiments. A staff officer came to me about this 
time from Major General Humphreys with an order to withdraw the troops. I 
obeyed this order very slowly. I was unable on account of the dense growth of 
sorghum on the right of the brigade to see the condition of the troops on my 
right, and consequently did not see the necessity of retiring, but I retired and 
formed another line on a road about 100 yards in the rear, still in advance of the 
Boisseau house. I discovered here from the direction of the enemy's fire that 
our right had been well driven back, and also noticed that the skirmish line 
which I had established across the swamp to the westward, now on my left 
flank, had been driven in and their position occupied by the enemy. In view 
of the position of the enemy on my right and left, and the order from General 
Humphreys, I at once ordered the two left regiments, the Second and Twen- 
tieth Michigan, to withdraw. The other regiments were ordered to follow. I 
fell back, and by order of the general commanding the division, reformed my 
line, the right resting on the left of the Pegram house, and the line extending 
to the left, which was very much refused. It is now dusk. Skirmishers were 
advanced about 100 yards. The brigade remained in this position until about 
12 o'clock, midnight, when the skirmishers were relieved by the Twenty-fourth 
New York Cavalry, and the rest of the brigade was withdrawn and put into 
position on the right of the First Brigade, which was stretched across the road 
at the Clements house, facing about northwest. Went into position about 2 a. m. 
Breastworks were thrown up between that time and daylight. 

About 8 a. m., October 1, the brigade was moved to the right, the right rest- 
ing near the Peebles house, the left extending toward the Clements house. We 
were ordered to throw up breastworks, which was done at once, under a heavy 
rain. Very soon after the work was commenced, the Twenty-fourth New York 
(now under command of Lieutenant Colonel W. C. Newberry, Colonel Raulston 
having been captured near the Boisseau house the day before), which was on 
duty near the Pegram house, and the pickets of the Second Division and of the 
Fifth Corps were attacked by infantry and artillery. They retired, and the 
Twenty-fourth was put on picket on our own front. During this attack the erec- 
tion of breastworks progressed very rapidly. Skirmishing occurred on the Sec- 
ond Division front during the day, but nothing worthy of note transpired so 
far as this brigade was concerned. On the morning of the 2d, about 8 o'clock, 
in obedience to orders, the brigade moved forward in two lines, with skirmishers 
in front. The skirmish line was composed of the Sixtieth Ohio, part deployed 
and the rest in reserve, under Major Stearns. The first line consisted of the 
Twentieth Michigan and the Forty-sixth New York, under Lieutenant Colonel 
Cutcheon; and the Second of the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, the First 



244 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Michigan Sharpshooters (under command of Captain G. H. Murdock, Colonel 
DeLand having been captured on the 30th), the Second Michigan and the Fif- 
tieth Pennsylvania, under Lieutenant Colonel W. C. Newberry, of the Twenty- 
fourth. The brigade was ordered to move forward in such a direction that its 
right should rest on the Pegram house. At 11 o'clock my skirmishers occupied 
the Boisseau house. They were the first to occupy it. About 1 p. m., the first 
line, under Lieutenant Colonel Cutcheon, was put in position on the left of Pot- 
ter's division, with orders to throw up breastworks, which was at once done. 
Just before dark the brigade was ordered to form in line, the left resting on the 
works occupied by the Second Division in the morning, and the right extending 
in the general direction of the Pegram house. 

Works were thrown up during the night and a picket line established. Next 
day the works were strengthened, timber slashed and the picket line advanced and 
reestablished. 

October 8, at 6:30 a. m., in obedience to orders from Brigadier General Will- 
cox, the brigade moved in light marching order and without breaking camp, 
to the Clements house. Here the brigade was formed on the south side of the 
road leading from the Clements house to the Hawks house in the following 
order : The Second Michigan, under Lieutenant Colonel March, deployed as- 
skirmishers, supported by the Twenty-fourth New York, the whole under com- 
mand of Lieutenant Colonel Newberry; the first line, composed of the Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania, the Twentieth and First Michigan, under Lieutenant Colonel Cut- 
cheon, and the second composed of the Forty-sixth New York and Sixtieth Ohio, 
under Major Stearns. The Third Brigade formed on the right of the road, and 
when they were ready we advanced. On reaching the plain in front of the 
Smith house and the enemy's redoubts on this road, slight skirmishing occurred 
with the enemy, who retired without any resistance. They were at this time 
leveling their abandoned works. My skirmishers moved up and occupied first 
the Smith house, then the redoubts, without any loss. I then stationed the 
First Michigan Sharpshooters on the road leading to the left from the edge of 
the open field, and about seventy-five men from the Twenty-fourth New York 
at the Smith House, part of whom were deployed as skirmishers to the south and 
west, then advanced the skirmishers and the rest of the Twenty-fourth New York 
as support on the road leading west; moved up that road about half a mile until I 
came to a cross road, still in the woods. I now brought up the balance of the 
troops, stationing the Fiftieth Pennsylvania near the Hawks house, which was on 
the right of this road ; the Twentieth Michigan and Forty-sixth New York on 
the crest of the hill running from the redoubts to the Smith house, where they 
threw up a temporary breastwork, while the Sixtieth Ohio established skirmishers 
south and west from the Smith house, this house being their headquarters. 

About 100 yards in advance of the cross roads referred to was a clearing, in 
which was the enemy's cavalry in some force. 

They were slashing timber and blockading roads, south and west of the posi- 
tion. I established a picket of the Twenty-fourth New York on the road, and 
ordered the skirmishers to change directions to the right. The enemy then at- 
tacked my picket at the cross roads, but were repulsed. I immediately halted my 
skirmishers and reestablished my connection with my pickets and rested here for 



APPENDIX 245 



orders. The Third Brigade picket line, which was on my right, was attacked and 
driven in. My right temporarily gave way, but was immediately halted by 
Lieutenant Colonel March and remained in their position. No effort being made 
to reestablish the Third Brigade line, and fearing the enemy might follow up 
their little success and permanently occupy a position which commanded the 
road over which I had to withdraw, I ordered my skirmishers and pickets to fall 
back and form on the same line as those of the Third Brigade. After receiving 
notice to retire I ordered back all the regiments to the edge of the woods, and in 
support of two guns still in position, except the Twentieth, which occupied the 
rebel redoubt, and the Sixtieth Ohio, at the Smith house. As soon as the guns 
were withdrawn I ordered back to camp the regiments then with them. It was 
now dark nearly. An order was then sent to Lieutenant Colonel Cutcheon to 
withdraw his regiment arid the Sixtieth Ohio and return to camp. 

I desire to express my entire satisfaction with the conduct of the regiments 
in the command and their commanding officers. They behaved nobly on the 
afternoon of the 30th especially, when the brigade was almost surrounded by 
the enemy, retiring a short distance and forming a new line, where they stood 
firm until ordered to retire. All the regiments displayed a steadiness under try- 
ing circumstances, which speaks well of their discipline. 

The same qualities were displayed during the reconnaissance on the 8th of 
October. To the members of my staff, Captains Mathews and Van Buskirk and 
Lieutenants Watts and Todd, I am under obligations for the promptness and 
ability with which they aided me. 

I have the honor, captain, to be your most obedient servant, 

J. F. HARTRANFT, 
Brigadier General of Volunteers. 
Captain John D. Bertollette, 

Assistant Adjustant General, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLII, Part 1, Page 595.) 



REPORT OF COLONEL WILLIAM HUMPHREY. SECOND MICHIGAN 

INFANTRY, COMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE, OF OPER- 

TIONS AUGUST 19-21. 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., Third Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
Near Aiken's House, Va., August 30, 1864. 

Captain — I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by 
this command in the fight at Blick's farm (Weldon Railroad), on the 19th of 
the present month : 

At 5 p. m. the enemy attacked the right of the line occupied by the Fifth Corps, 
driving in the skirmishers and capturing the works to the right of the Weldon 
Railroad, with a considerable portion of the troops holding these works. As soon 
as the firing was commenced by the enemy, I ordered my command under arms 
and at once changed the front of my line so as to face toward the point at which 
the attack was made. Then, by order of General Willcox, commanding division, 



24 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



moved forward as a support to the First Brigade, but soon after was ordered 
to move to the left. 

When I had moved far enough in this direction to cover my whole front I was 
again ordered to move forward. This move bringing my line in contact with the 
enemy just coming out of the woods, I ordered a halt and opened fire at once, 
which soon drove back the attacking force. I was then ordered to form the brig- 
ade in two lines, and to move some distance farther to the left, then to charge 
into the woods, and, if possible, drive the enemy from the works from which he 
had a short time before driven a portion of the Fifth Corps. As I moved into 
the woods without connection, either on my right or left, the advance was made 
cautiously until near the works occupied by the enemy. Then the charge was 
ordered at the double-quick. This charge was gallantly made, and resulted in 
the capture of the colors of the Forty-seventh Virginia Regiment, ioo prisoners, 
and the occupation of the pit by the brigade. An hour afterward a portion of the 
Fifth Corps (Crawford's division, I think), moved up and occupied the pit on 
my right. The pit on my left was occupied about the same time by troops from 
the same corps. After this pit had been taken the enemy made three separate at- 
tacks, on the part occupied by my command, but each attack was finely repulsed. 

The losses of the brigade for this engagement were twelve enlisted men 
killed, one officer and thirty-eight enlisted men wounded, and three enlisted men 
missing; total, one officer and fifty-three men. 

The conduct of the officers and men of the brigade during this engagement 
was all that could be desired. The advance to the first attack was made coolly 
and in perfect order, the charge on the pits was gallantly made, and the several 
attacks of the enemy promptly met and repulsed. 

On the morning of the 20th, I set a detail of men to gather up the arms and 
accoutrements that lay strewn along the line and through the wood. Five hun- 
dred and thirteen stands were collected. 

These arms were mostly found either standing along the pit, with the accoutre- 
ments hanging along the muzzles of the pieces, or in a line of stacks some dis- 
tance in the rear of the pits. 

The brigade occupied these works till the morning of the 20th, when it was 
drawn back to the rear of the woods, in which position it remained until 2 a. m. 
of the 21 st, when it was drawn still farther back and to the right and rear of 
the Fifth Corps. Here it remained until after the engagement of this day. On 
the morning of the 20th, the Sixtieth Ohio Infantry was sent out to occupy the 
old works with a picket line, and lost in the attack of this morning two enlisted 
men wounded and one officer and fifty-four enlisted men missing. 

Attached I send a list of casualties for the 19th, 20th and 21st, showing a loss 
during the three days of thirteen enlisted men killed, two officers and forty-five 
enlisted men wounded, and one officer and sixty-three enlisted men missing. 

The above report is respectfully submitted. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

WILLIAM HUMPHREY, 

Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 
Captain Richards, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps. 



APPENDIX 247 



(Official Records, Vol. XLII, Part 1, Serial 87, Page 597) 

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, TWEN- 
TIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY OF OPERATIONS AUGUST 20--21. 

Hdqrs. Twentieth Regt., Michigan Vol. Infty., 
In the trenches before Petersburg, Va., near the Aiken House, 
Weldon Railroad, August 28, 1864. 

Sir— In compliance with orders from headquarters Second Brigade, Third 
Division, Ninth Army Corps, I have the honor to make the following report of 
operations of my command on the 20th and 21st of August, 1864: 

August 20, at daylight, threw out regular pickets, and about 10 a. m., the main 
line was withdrawn from the woods. Immediately this regiment was ordered 
to retake the position in the rifle-pits as support of the skirmishers, which we did, 
deploying so as to occupy the front previously occupied by the brigade. At the 
same time a detail was made for the gathering up of arms and accoutrements, 
which lay in large numbers in the woods. In the course of the afternoon the 
enemy made several demonstrations upon our skirmish line, driving in our skir- 
mishers, but did not press their attack upon the reserve. During the night 
everything remained quiet. At 8 a. m. of August 21, the regiment was relieved 
by the Twenty-fourth New York Volunteer Cavalry, and took its position with 
the remainder of the brigade near the Yellow house. Shortly after, the enemy 
made an attack upon our lines, but the regiment did not become actively engaged 
and suffered no loss. Near the close of the action, with the Second Michigan, 
Forty-sixth New York Volunteers, and the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, 
we took position near the edge of the woods north of the Yellow house, but were 
soon afterward withdrawn and established on a line with some redoubts, a short 
distance from the Weldon Railroad, and threw up heavy breastworks, where we 
remained for the rest of the day. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Twentieth Michigan. 
Captain Thomas Mathews. 

Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., Third Div., Ninth Army Corps. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLII, Part 1, Serial 87, Page 570.) 



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, TWEN- 
TIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY, OF OPERATIONS SEPTEMBER 

30-OCTOBER 8. 

Hdqrs. Twentieth Michigan Infantry Volunteers, 
Near Peebles' House, Va., October 16, 1864. 

Sir— In compliance with circular from headquarters, Second Brigade, First 



248 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



Division. Ninth Army Corps, of this date, I have the honor to make the follow- 
ing report of the operations of this regiment west of the Weldon Railroad: 

September 30, 1864. we were in readiness to march at 6:30 a. m., but we did 
not move until between the hours of 10 and 11 a. m. On reaching the Peebles' 
farm, we were formed in line in the low ground west of the house, facing nearly 
westward. This regiment occupied the left of the brigade line, and was soon 
after detached with the Second Michigan and sent up the road to the westward 
to guard the approach from that direction. I sent scouts some way up the road, 
who reported no enemy. We were soon after withdrawn and joined the brigade, 
which now moved about half a mile to the right, and reformed, with its left rest- 
ing nearly west of the Pegram house, with a dense swamp in front. By direction 
of the general commanding the brigade. 1 sent Lieutenant Parker with twelve 
men as skirmishers to penetrate this swamp and report upon its practicability. 
The skirmishers passed through the swamp and reported that it could be passed, 
but with difficulty. I reported accordingly. Soon after we again moved to the 
right, crossing a country road and changing front forward, came into line nearly 
facing the north, the left resting upon the two log barns on the road already 
mentioned. At this time this regiment was the extreme left of our army, with 
nothing between it and the enemy's works, which curved around our left, except 
a very thin line of skirmishers. 

In our rear was an almost impenetrable swamp jungle. The works upon our 
left seemed to be occupied only by cavalry, at least they did not develop either 
artillery or infantry upon that flank, but a regiment or brigade of cavalry, since 
known to be Hampton's, occupied the works near a yellow house on their line. 

While we were lying in this position waiting further orders, the enemy 
charged upon the line to the right of the brigade and succeeded in breaking it. 
Our line, however, maintained its position, until the enemy was upon our flank 
and rear, when I received orders to fall back in good order, which I did. On 
reaching the road before mentioned I halted and again faced the enemy ; I again 
received orders to fall back, which I did in perfect order until reaching the 
swamp, by which we were cut off from the rest of the brigade. As we were 
about entering the swamp, the enemy's cavalry charged upon our left flank, 
pouring in several volleys as the men were forcing their way with great difficulty 
through the swamp, tangled with vines and brambles. 

At this point I lost two officers and twenty-one men. Adjutant J. E. Siebert, 
a most valuable officer, fell while steadying and encouraging the men; Captain 
Oliver Blood also fell here mortally wounded, and was taken by the enemy. He 
was also a meritorious officer. 

Of the men captured, quite a number were wounded, but the exact number I 
am not able to state. After extricating ourselves from the swamp I rallied and 
reformed the regiment as speedily as possible and took position a little to the 
left of the Pegram house in a belt of woods. In conjunction with Major Stearns 
of the Sixtieth Ohio, I threw out skirmishers to protect our left flank, connecting 
with the One Hundred and Ninth New York. It was now dark. We lay upon 
our arms until midnight, when our pickets were relieved by the Twenty-fourth 
New York Cavalry, and we moved back and took position on the ridge near 



APPENDIX 249 



Clements' house west of the Peebles' house; here, by daylight, we had thrown 
up a good breastwork, with pickets well out in front. By 7 a. m. all stragglers 
had rejoined the regiment and at that hour we moved down by the right flank 
into the flat west of the Peebles house, where we threw up a second line of 
breastworks. At this time our skirmishers were driven in, but the attack did 
not reach the main line. These works we occupied until the next morning, the 
rain meanwhile falling in torrents, making our position on the flat very dis- 
agreeable. 

At about 8 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, October 2, 1864, we again 
advanced in line, the Forty-sixth New York being upon our right, until we 
reached the Pegram house, when the enemy opened some light guns upon us, 
which did us no damage. We next moved by the left flank a short distance, and 
threw up another line of breastworks, which we occupied until near night, when 
we were again withdrawn and took position near the rebel fort in front of the 
Peebles' house, here we felled timber and threw up the fourth line of breast- 
works within two days. 

The next day we went into camp on the same ground, where we remain at the 
present time. On the 8th instant we participated in a reconnaissance on the 
enemy's right flank, in which we did not become actually engaged nor did we 
suffer any loss. This regiment was assigned no special duty, except to cover the 
withdrawal of the troops, which was successfully done, this regiment coming in 
after dark. 

Appended is a list of casualties on the 30th ultimo. 

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Volunteers. 
Captain Thomas Mathews 

Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., First Div.. Ninth Army Corps 

(Official Records, Vol. XLII, Part 1. Serial 87, Page 568.) 

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, TWEN- 
TIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY, COMMANDING SECOND BRIG- 
ADE, OF OPERATIONS OCTOBER 27-28. 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
October 29, 1864. 

Captain— In accordance with orders from headquarters, First Division, Ninth 
Army Corps, October 28, 1864, I have the honor to make the following report of 
the operations of this brigade on the 27th and 28th instant : 

At 2 a. m. of the 27th camp was broken, and at 3 a. m. the brigade was in 
column ready to move. At 3 :30 a. m. the column passed corps headquarters en 
route, and at 4 a. m. halted at our outer vedettes. Waited until Colonel Mc- 
Laughlin's brigade had passed to my right and filed along the old rebel breast- 
works. 



250 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

Meanwhile I deployed the Second Michigan as skirmishers along the edge of 
the woods east of the Smith house, the Twentieth Michigan supporting them in 
line, and the remainder of the brigade moving by the left flank in the following 
order: Sixtieth Ohio, Fiftieth Pennsylvania, First Michigan Sharpshooters (the 
Forty-sixth New York had been left in garrison at Fort Cummings). My order 
was to advance as soon as I heard from Colonel McLaughlin, which I did, keeping 
my right in the direction of the Smith house. 

On reaching that house the left swung forward and we advanced rapidly in a 
direction nearly westward. McLaughlin's skirmishers being withdrawn on my 
right, I ordered my skirmishers to gain ground in that direction as they advanced, 
until they should cover the road running westward from the Hawks' house. The 
right of the skirmish line being delayed in passing the swamp in front of the 
Hawks' house and some misconception of orders occurring at the same time, the 
left of Colonel March's line swung forward until it was formed nearly perpen- 
dicular with the Duncan road instead of the one intended. As soon as I dis- 
covered this I corrected the error as quickly as possible, but a delay of nearly 
half an hour was caused by this mistake. As soon as the line was again estab- 
lished on the proper front, I directed Colonel March to push forward vigorously 
and attack promptly any force of the enemy he might encounter. He did so, 
driving the enemy's skirmishers rapidly before him, closely supported by the 
balance of the brigade, until, on emerging from the woods in front of the 
Clements' house, at about Q a. m., he found himself confronted by a line of 
works well filled with men and protected by an almost impervious slashing. Col- 
onel March advanced his line close up to the slashing, the left of his line entering 
it, but finding the position too strong to attack, he halted and reported the situa- 
tion. The supporting regiments (Twentieth Michigan and Fifty-first Pennsyl- 
vania) now moved up close to the slashing and began throwing up slight pits 
for their protection. 

Meanwhile the brigade was put in line, supported by General Hartranft's brig- 
ade, and the skirmishers engaged the enemy vigorously. By 10 a. m. I had estab- 
lished my connections with Ferrero on my right and with the Fifth Corps on 
my left, and General Hartranft had moved into a position' on my left. At 
about 10 a. m. we were ordered to be ready to charge the enemy's 
works at the same time that the Fifth Corps attacked. I made dispositions 
accordingly, but Colonel March sent back word that there was a slashing of heavy 
timber in his front, from ten to thirty rods in width, and that it would be impos- 
sible to charge through it with any hope of success, but that he thought that an 
attack was practicable upon the left, where there was no slashing. I held the 
brigade in readiness to attack until about noon, when we were ordered to throw 
up rifle-pits, which was very quickly done, a good substantial line being con- 
structed. At 4 p. m. we commenced slashing in our front and continued it till 
dark, by which time we had a strong line. 

Meanwhile, at about 2 p. m., the Second Michigan, Colonel March commanding, 
being nearly out of ammunition, was relfeved by the Sixtieth Ohio, Major 
Steams commanding, but the left of the Second Michigan had advanced so far 
into the slashing that it was impossible for them to retire by daylight, and near 



APPENDIX 251 



night the enemy made a dash from their works and captured them. There were 
of them one officer (Adjutant Schneider) and four men. Until near dark the 
skirmish line of this brigade had covered the front of Hartranft's brigade also, 
but at night this part of the line was relieved by skirmishers from the First 
Brigade, and the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, which had heretofore been in sup- 
port of the right of my brigade skirmish line, was shifted to the left and put 
in support of the skirmishers of the First Brigade. In this order we rested upon 
our arms for the night. As soon as it was dark the enemy advanced a strong 
picket line into the slashing, which was withdrawn before daylight. 

On the morning of the 28th we continued the slashing until we received orders 
to be ready to move, when we sent all the tools to the wagons and put all things 
in readiness. I withdrew the Twentieth Michigan from the skirmish line and 
put them in reserve in rear of the brigade. At 11:30 a. m. we received orders 
to move to the right and relieve the left brigade of Ferrero's division. Before 
commencing the movement, I withdrew the reserve of the Sixtieth Ohio from the 
skirmish line, r.nd deployed it in rear of the main breastworks. We then moved 
to the right, keeping closed up on the colored troops. Major Stearns now with- 
drew his reserve and deployed it, by order of the division officer of the day, in 
front of McLaughlin's brigade (which now occupied the second line of works) 
with its right resting on the breastworks. I now moved in rear of Russell's brig- 
ade (colored) until my right rested on General Potter's left, when I reformed my 
line with my left refused, and as the skirmishers of the Third division withdrew 
from my right, I replaced them with a detail from the First Michigan Sharp- 
shooters. As soon as McLaughlin had retired and I was notified that General 
Hartranft was retiring by the left, I received an order from the general com- 
manding to withdraw by the left flank and take position with my right resting on 
the dismantled fort near the Hawks house, which I did, keeping my front still 
covered with a portion of the Sixtieth Ohio, while the remainder covered the 
flank. When everything had withdrawn beyond the swamp in front of the 
Hawks house, I withdrew, following McLaughlin, and coming within the works, 
occupied our old position at 3 130 p. m., having suffered a loss of only thirty, 
of whom five were missing from the Second Michigan. A list of casualties 
has been already forwarded, to which I respectfully refer you. 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 
Captain J. D. Bertollette, 

Assistant Adjutant General, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLH, Part 1, Serial 87, Page 74.) 



ITINERARY— SECOND BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION. 

August r to 15 — In division line before Petersburg, Va., entrenching, picketing 
and sharpshooting. 

August 15 — Moved to the Fifth Corps redoubts and picketed the line of the 
Jerusalem plank road. 



25 2 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



August 19 — Moved toward Weldon Railroad; went into action near Yellow 
house. 

August 21 — Again in action near Yellow house. 

August 25 — Moved short distance to the left to support Hancock. 

August 27 — Moved to the right and relieved Fourth Division. 

September 1 — Occupied part of the line near the Aiken house, between the 
Jerusalem plank road and Weldon Railroad; were engaged chiefly in fortifying 
and building corduroy roads. 

September 7 — Moved camp to the Williams house, on the plank road, on our 
rear line of defenses, and continued the work already begun. 

September 20 — Relieved the cavalry pickets in our front by details from our 
brigade; picketed on our front until the 26th, when the cavalry again occupied the 
line. Have been employed all the time since moving to this camp in work on the 
fortifications. 

September 29 — Received orders about 1 a. m. to have brigade in line about 4 
o'clock, ready to march; lay in line all day, and in the evening went into 
camp near the Gurley house, about one mile and a half from our former camp. 

September 30 — Colonel Humphrey was relieved from command and mustered 
out of service, and Brigadier General J. F. Hartranft assigned to command. 
Moved about 9:10 a. m., following Second Division; moved slowly toward Poplar 
Spring Church; reached the Peebles' house, near the works of the enemy just 
captured by the Fifth Corps and formed in line of battle about 1 p. m. Brigade 
was moved from one position to another during the afternoon, and finally was 
engaged with the enemy near the Pegram house just before dark. 

Occupied the extreme left, and the line of troops on our right being forced 
back, we were compelled to retire, the enemy on both flanks and rapidly coming in 
our rear. Moved back a short distance and reformed, holding the line near the 
Pegram house. 

Established a picket line, and about 12 :oo midnight withdrew to the 
left of a newly established line and fortified. Left the Twenty-fourth New 
York (dismounted) Cavalry on picket where the line was first established. The 
loss of the brigade during the day was one commissioned officer and five enlisted 
men killed, three commissioned officers and forty-five enlisted men wounded, 
eight commissioned officers and one hundred and fifty enlisted men missing; 
aggregate, 212. This number included several captured early next morning from 
the picket line, who were reported in the list of casualties for September 30, 1864. 

October 1 — Were engaged in fortifying all day. * * * 

October 2 — The brigade advanced again to the Boisseau house in connection 
with the rest of the corps and the Fifth and one division of the Second Corps. 
After some skirmishing with the enemy a new line was established, extending 
to the Pegram house. 

This brigade held the left of the line connecting with the old works of the 
enemy ; remained here fortifying until the 8th. 

October 8 — Joined the Third Brigade in reconnaissance west on the Squirrel 
Level road ; advanced about one mile and a half, meeting a strong line of the 
enemy's skirmishers; returned to camp at dusk. 



APPENDIX 253 



October 9 — General Hartranft was relieved, and Lieutenant Colonel Newberry, 
Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, assumed command. 

October 16 — Lieutenant Colonel Newberry received leave of absence, and the 
command devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel B. M. Cutcheon, Twentieth Michigan. 

October 18 — The Twenty-fourth New York moved to City Point to be 
mounted. 

October 2y — Broke camp at 3 a. m. and moved with the army in its advance to 
the Boydton plank road. The Forty-sixth New York was left to garrison Fort 
Cummings. The brigade had the advance of the Ninth Corps, and moved for- 
ward on the Squirrel Level road. The enemy's pickets and skirmishers fell 
back to their works, and were followed to within a short distance of their main 
line. Erected temporary breastworks here. 

October 28 — Remained until 11:30 a. m. skirmishing with the enemy, when 
orders were received to retire. Returned to the old camp, having lost two 
officers and twenty-three enlisted men wounded, and one officer and four enlisted 
men missing. 

(November) — The brigade participated in no movement of importance during 
the month. Remained in camp at Peebles' farm, until November 29, when it 
moved with the division to the extreme right of the line, relieving a brigade of the 
Second Corps. 

(December) — The brigade has not changed camp or engaged in any movement 
during the month. 

December 13— The Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry (dismounted) was detached from 
the command and ordered to City Point for the purpose of being mounted. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLH, Part 3, Page 462.) 



ORGANIZATION OF THE SECOND BRIGADE, OCTOBER 31, 1864. 

FIRST DIVISION. 

Brigadier General Orlando B. Willcox. 

SECOND BRIGADE. 

Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon. 
First Michigan Sharpshooters— Captain George H. Murdock. 
Second Michigan — Lieutenant Colonel Edwin J. March. 
Twentieth Michigan— Captain Alfred A. Van Cleve. 
Forty-sixth New York— Captain Adolph Becker. 
Sixtieth Ohio — Lieutenant Colonel Martin P. Avery. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania — Captain George W. Brumm. 



254 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



(Official Record, Vol. XLII, Part 3, Page 565) 



ELECTION RETURNS, SECOND BRIGADE. 

Headquarters Ninth Army Corps, 
November 8, 1864. 

Brig. Gen. S. Williams— The following is the result of the election in this 
corps by regiments, majorities only given: 
Twentieth Michigan — Republican majority, 118. 
Second Michigan — Republican majority, 54. 
First Michigan Sharpshooters — Republican majority, 55. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers— Republican majority, 71. 
Sixtieth Ohio Volunteers — Republican majority, 52. 

JOHN G. PARKE, 

Major General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLII, Part 3, Page 757-) 



GENERAL ORDERS NO. 34- 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
Near Petersburg, Va., November 30, 1864. 

1. In obedience to orders of the brigadier general commanding the division, 
the following dispositions of the regiments comprising this brigade will be made : 

2. The Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry will hold the line from the right where its 
right now rests to Battery No. 5, and will garrison Battery No. 5. 

3. The First Michigan Sharpshooters will occupy the line to the right of 
Fort McGilvery. 

4. The Fiftieth Pennsylvania will garrison Fort McGilvery. If there is not 
sufficient room in the fort to quarter the whole number, the surplus will encamp 
in the ravine in rear of the fort near old Battery No. 8. 

5. The Forty-sixth New York Veteran Volunteers will hold the line between 
Fort McGilvery and Battery No. 9. 

6. The Twentieth Michigan will garrison Battery No. 9, with one company 
in the apron on the left of the battery. 

7. The Second Michigan will occupy the works with the left of the Twen- 
tieth Michigan to the angle of the works between Batteries Nos. 9 and 10. 

8. The Sixtieth Ohio will be held in reserve, and will encamp on the ground 
formerly occupied by the headquarters of Colonel Murphy, a little distance in 
rear of Fort McGilvery. 

9. The necessary changes of position by the regiments will be made imme- 
diately after dark this evening. 

By command of Lieutenant Colonel B. M. Cutcheon. 

THOS. MATHEWS, 
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 



APPENDIX 255 



(Official Records, Vol XLII, Part 3, Page 1121.) 
ORGANIZATION OF SECOND BRIGADE, DECEMBER 31, 1864. 

EIRST DIVISION. 

Brevet Brigadier General Napoleon B. McLaughlin. 

SECOND BRIGADE. 

Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon. 
First Michigan Sharpshooters— Major Asahael W. Nichols. 
Second Michigan — Lieutenant Colonel Edwin J. March. 
Twentieth Michigan— Major Claudius B. Grant. 
Forty-sixth New York— Captain Victor Praxmarer. 
Sixtieth Ohio — Lieutenant Colonel Martin P. Avery. 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania — Captain George W. Brumm. 

(Official Records, Vol. LI, Part 1, Serial 107, Page 1188.) 



LETTER OF MAJOR GENERAL PARKE, COMMANDING NINTH 

CORPS- 

Headquarters Ninth Army Corps, 
* November 19, 1864. 

Brigadier Gen. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant General, Army of the Potomac: 

General— On the 15th of September I submitted recommendations for promo- 
tion by brevet of officers of this corps. * * * 

Among the remaining mentioned officers many changes have taken place, by 
means of resignation, muster out and promotion. 

I would therefore submit the following recommendations in lieu of the list 
made September 15, taking it for granted that Generals Willcox and Potter, 
Colonel Curtin and Lieutenant Benjamin will receive their brevet commissions: 
* Lieutenant Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Twentieth Michigan Volunteers, 
recommended for brevet colonel for gallantry at the battles of the Wilderness 
and Spottsylvania, wounded May 10, and brevet brigadier general for gallantry 
on the Weldon Railroad and in subsequent actions, now commanding the Second 
Brigade, and well qualified. 



APPENDIX "G." 



PETERSBURG CAMPAIGN, 1865. 

I. Organization of Brigade, March 29, 1865. 
II. Itinerary Ninth Corps, January 1 to April 26, 1865. 
III. Report of Colonel Ralph Ely of the Attack on Fort Stedman, March 
25, 1865. 

IV. Report of Captain A. A. Day, Commanding the Regiment, of Attack on 

Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. 

V. Report of Colonel Ralph Ely, Commanding Brigade, of Operations April 

1 to April 6, 1865. 
VI. Report of Captain A. A. Day, Commanding Regiment, of Operations 
March 29 to April 18, 1865. 
VII. Report of Major General Orlando B. Willcox, Commanding First Division, 
Operations March 29 to April 9, 1865. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 1, Serial 95, Page 573-) 



ORGANIZATION OF SECOND BRIGADE, MARCH 29, 1865. 
Same as organization October 31, 1864. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 1, Serial 95, Page 107.) 

NINTH ARMY CORPS. 

(January) — The troops occupy same position as at date of last return, and no 
movement has taken place during the month. 

(February) — There has been no movement of the corps during the month, 
except the Third Division. 

February 5— Third Division moved to the left near Hatcher's Run, where it 
remained under the orders of Major General Humphrey's until the evening of 
the 10th. 

February 10 — It was relieved and returned to its former camp. 

March 1 to 25 — Nothing unusual occurred along the lines of the corps. 

March 25 — In the morning the enemy made a desperate assault on Fort Sted- 
man, in front of the lines of the First Division, and succeeded, after a deter- 
mined resistance on the part of the garrison, in gaining temporary possession 



APPENDIX 257 



of it. The lines were firmly held on either side of the fort until the Third Divi- 
sion, Brevet Major General Hartranft commanding, came up, when a charge 
was made by his division and a portion of the First Division, which soon resulted 
in the recapture of the fort and the capture of a large number of prisoners be- 
sides inflicting upon the enemy a severe loss in killed and wounded while being 
driven back to his works. Our loss was comparatively small. 

Everything remained as usual during the remainder of the month, with the ex- 
ception of more continued artillery firing. 

April i— Corps occupied the trenches before Petersburg, Va. 
April 2-^Engaged in the general assault upon the enemy, principally upon the 
works in front of Fort Sedgwick. 

April 3-Marched through Petersburg in pursuit of Lee's retreating army 
excepting First Division, which was left to guard the south side railroad from 
Petersburg to Black's and White's Station, extending to the latter place 

April is— The Second Brigade. Second Division, moved as far as Burke- 
ville and the First Brigade to Farmville. The Third Division' remained at 
Nottoway Court House, which place it reached on the 8th 

April 20-Corps ordered to Washington, D. C, and started at once for City 
Point for Embarkation. y 

April 24— The First Division arrived at Alexandria, Va 
April 25— The Third Division arrived. 

April 26-The Second Division arrived. The First Division moved through 
Washington and encamped near Tennallytown, D. C. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 1, Serial 95, Page 325). 

REPROT OF BREVET COLONEL RALPH ELY, EIGHTH MICHIGAN 

INFANTRY, COMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE OF 

OPERATIONS MARCH 25. 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
March 27, 1865. 

Major-I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of m V 
command in the action of the 25th instant : 

I first learned that an attack had been made by an officer of the Second Michi- 
gan informing me about 4 a. m. that the enemy had entered our main line of 
works between the Second and Third Brigades and had wheeled round and 
attacked the left of the Second Michigan. 

I immediately visited the line, and gave such orders as, in the darkness and 
under the uncertainties of the situation, I deemed practicable. I at once sent 
orders to Major Schwenk, whose regiment (the Fiftieth Pennsylvania Veteran 
Volunteers) was in camp about two miles down the river, to send up all his 
effective men. 

Being unable on account of the darkness, to determine the relative positions of 
our own men and those of the enemy only by the flashing of the guns, I ordered 
17 



258 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



fifty men of the first Michigan Sharpshooters to be deployed as skirimshers and 
advance toward Fort Stedman. 

This company advanced in good style, and skirmished to a point in the field 
in rear of the Second Michigan. The attack on the Second Michigan had been 
made on their left by a heavy force of the enemy coming down the line of the 
breastworks and the old wagon road at the rear, thus having an enfilading and 
rear fire on that regiment. So suddenly had this been done that no line was 
formed, and the left companies were driven in upon the right, and some of the 
men took refuge in Battery No. 9. Captain Boughton, however, quickly formed 
a line in rear of the left traverse, extending across the old wagon road, and 
though left with only a small portion of the regiment, checked the enemy in a 
splendid manner, who, instead of forcing their way, or by any means getting 
possession of any part of my line, were held there. 

As the light increased and the position of the enemy became more clearly 
defined, the fire of the musketry and artillery was more effective. They were 
cut off and subsequently captured. 

In an early part of the engagement I sent orders to Lieutenant Bangs, com- 
manding artillery in Battery No. 5, who had been replying to the enemy's bat- 
teries on the north side of the river, to direct his fire on Fort Stedman. He 
obeyed, and with both guns and mortars, did excellent execution. Major 
Roemer, commanding the artillery in Fort McGilvery, kept up from the first a 
rapid and effective fire. I should not neglect mentioning that the gallant major, 
while aiming a gun, was struck by a piece of shell, knocked down and severely in- 
jured, but continued in active command until the action was over. The artil- 
lery in Battery No. 9 did all that could have been asked. Upon the arrival of the 
Fiftieth Pennsylvania I ordered them to take a position on the right of the 
Seventeenth Michigan, which had moved up and occupied a line of rifle-pits 
in rear of the line assumed by the disposition of my men, and all keeping up a 
brisk fire. The enemy was completely baffled, and, under the terrible fire of the 
artillery, were soon forced to yield their hold on the road and began to retreat. 
To escape the galling fire of the Second and Twentieth Michigan and part of the 
Sixtieth Ohio, kept up from the first, 300 or 400 of the enemy took refuge in 
bomb-proofs and behind traverses in the line, and were unable to escape. No 
portion of my line was removed, except as above mentioned, and no part of the 
picket line was abandoned except in front of the Second Michigan, and that was 
reoccupied at an early part of the action and materially assisted in preventing 
the escape of the prisoners. 

In view of the suddenness of the attack and its complete success at first, too 
much praise cannot be given the different regiments of the brigade for the cool- 
ness and bravery with which they did their duty. Throughout the action the 
entire line sustained a very heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, but all damages 
done to the works were repaired during the day after the fight. 

Prisoners were captured to the number of 316, rank and file and 17 officers. 
The losses of the brigade foots up as follows : Second Michigan, one killed, 
eight wounded, nineteen missing; Twentieth Michigan, nine wounded; Sixtieth 



APPENDIX 259 



Ohio, one killed, six wounded ; Forty-sixth New York, two killed, three wounded ; 
total, 49. 

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

RALPH ELY, 
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 
Brevet Major William V. Richards, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 1, Serial 95, Page 328.) 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN ALBERT A. DAY, TWENTIETH MICHIGAN 
INFANTRY, OF OPERATIONS MARCH 25. 

Hdqrs. Twentieth Michigan Vols., Battery No. 9. 
Before Petersburg, Va., March 27, 1865. 

Major — With regard to the part sustained by this regiment in the recent action 
of March 25, 1865, on this front, I would respectfully report as follows : 

At 4 a. m., March 25, my alarm guard having notified me of rapid firing in 
front of Fort Stedman, I caused the command to be turned out under arms. 
The firing soon being discontinued, I returned the men to quarters, with instruc- 
tions to keep their accoutrements on and to remain awake and on the alert. 
At 4 -.30 a. m. the firing commenced with renewed vigor and rapidity and the 
men were again turned out. Nothing of marked importance occurred at this 
time on my immediate front. At 5 a. m. the fort on my left (Stedman) was 
carried by the enemy by assault, the artillery captured in the works and turned 
on this battery, and the enemy thrown rapidly down the road in rear of our lines 
in such dispositions as threatened the left and rear of this work. I immediately 
moved my two right consolidated companies behind the left, and the Second 
Michigan Volunteers, a part of which regiment had been driven inside of this 
battery, behind the rear face of this work, leaving the other four consolidated 
companies in a position to defend the front and right, which were at the time 
threatened by the two lines of the enemy perfectly distinguishable, but not as 
yet out of cover of their works. 

My officers reported to me that these lines were about to be charged upon just 
before the final repulse of the enemy on their right, but being instantly met by 
a well-directed volley from this battery, their officers appeared unable to get the 
men over their works. Meanwhile, it having grown sufficiently light to disclose 
the enemy in heavy mass on the slope of a hill to the right of Fort Stedman, 
and also in the road in rear of same, I immediately caused the men, about 150 
in number, to open a rapid musketry fire on those of their troops who occupied 
these positions. I have reason to believe that this firing was very effective, 
being at easy long range, well directed, and its object being a body of men in 
heavy mass, occupying a side hill, the face of which was presented to this bat- 
tery. This firing was continued throughout the engagement. At 7 130 a. m. 



2 6o TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

the enemy being completely broken and retreating rapidly in disorder, I threw a 
part of my regiment into the skirmish line on the left of this battery, in order 
to check them as they attempted to cross the main line on their retreat. 

Three hundred and fifteen men and their officers were thus captured and for- 
warded to brigade headquarters under guard. A large number of small arms 
were also captured, and have this day been turned over to the proper ordnance 
officer. It having been reported to the general commanding, that Battery No. 9 
was captured, several shots were fired from Battery Dunn, taking effect in the 
quarters of my second consolidated company. Fortunately no lives were lost 
through this error, and upon the colors being promptly placed in a conspicuous 
place, this firing from the rear ceased. 

Nine men belonging to this regiment were wounded during the engagement. 

I have only to add that Batteries C and I, Fifth United States, commanded 
by Lieutenant Huysman, and a section of Company K, First Connecticut Artil- 
lery, commanded by Lieutenant Brown, deserve much credit for the part sus- 
tained by their men in the defense of this fort. The officers and men of this 
command acted throughout with perfect coolness and regularity. 
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

ALBERT A. DAY, 
Captain, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. 
Brevet Major C. A. Lounsberry, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 1, Serial 95, Page 1047.) 



REPORT OF BREVET COLONEL RALPH ELY, EIGHTH MICHIGAN 
INFANTRY, COMMANDING SECOND BRIGADE. 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div., Ninth Army Corps, 
April 6, 1865. 

Major — I have the honor to submit the following report of the part performed 
by my brigade in the occupation of Petersburg: 

Pursuant to instructions from General Willcox, my command was dis- 
posed for a charge at 4 a. m. on the 26. instant. Two columns were formed 
for assault. The Second Michigan Veteran Volunteers, supported by the 
Twentieth Michigan Volunteers, was to assault on the left of the brigade; 
the First Michigan Sharpshooters, supported by the Forty-sixth New 
York Veteran Volunteers, was to assault on the right of the line; the Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers and Sixtieth Ohio Volunteers were held in 
reserve. At 4:05 a. m., I received orders to make the best demonstration pos- 
sible. I immediately gave the necessary orders, and a brisk skirmish com- 
menced along my whole line. The First Michigan Sharpshooters, Lieutenant 
Colonel Nichols commanding, advanced rapidly and occupied the rebel line, 
where it rests on the Appomattox. These gallant men did nobly, but they were 
forced back by superior numbers, with a loss of forty-one killed and missing. 



APPENDIX 261 



The total loss of the brigade in this affair was eighty-six. Sunday evening I 
directed that one of my staff should remain on the line during the night and 
watch closely the movements of the enemy. About 1 .-30 a. m. I notified the com- 
manding officers of the First Michigan Sharpshooters and Second Michigan 
Veteran Volunteers to hold themselves in readiness to make a demonstration 
on the right of my front at 4 a. m., and perhaps sooner. 

I received orders at 2:30 through Captain Keyser to make a demonstration 
immediately, as a deserter had come in on Colonel Robinson's front and re- 
ported that the rebels had all left except the picket line. I ordered Brevet 
Major Lounsberry, assistant adjutant general, to awaken the command immedi- 
ately, and order the First Michigan Sharpshooters and Second Michigan to report 
to him on the picket line for further orders. J instructed the major to form the 
two regiments as quickly as possible, to throw out scouts and a heavy skirmish 
line and occupy the main rebel works if possible. I directed that so soon as 
the balance of the brigade reached the abatis after the occupation of the main 
works, the advance should move rapidly, but cautiously, forward and plant a 
color upon some public building in the city. 

At 3:10 a. m., all being in readiness, the advance moved rapidly forward and 
occupied the main works of the enemy, when the boys gave three hearty cheers, 
reformed their lines, partially broken by the obstacles they had passed, and 
pressed forward. The advance pushed forward as rapidly as possible under the 
circumstances, as it was necessary to keep scouts well out in front and on the 
flanks. 

The ground was unfavorable for rapid movement, yet the flag of the First 
Michigan Sharpshooters was hoisted on the Court House at 4:28 a. m., and the 
flag of the Second Michigan on the Custom House a few moments later. 

The left of my brigade moved slowly, because of the necessity of keeping con- 
nection with the troops on my left. My whole command reached the vicinity of 
the Court House before 6 a. m. So soon as I saw my advance leave the rebel 
works and proceed forward, I ordered the pioneers to clear the road for artillery. 
Captain Stone, Fifth U. S. Artillery, followed the pioneers, and reached the 
Court House with two pieces just after daylight. At 4:25 a. m., Major Louns- 
berry was met in front of the Court House by three citizens bearing a flag of 
truce and a communication from the mayor and common council tendering the 
surrender of the town, and requesting that persons and private property be 
respected. But the gallant major could listen to no proposition until the "Old 
Flag" was floating from the highest point of the Court House steeple and proper 
pickets had been established in the vicinity, and patrols sent out to pick up 
stragglers, about 500 of whom we captured, many of them with arms, also seven 
flags or colors. The major then assured the gentlemen that we came in the 
name of liberty and in the defense of right, and that they need have no fear, 
for all would be well with them so long as they remained at home and con- 
ducted themselves properly. While the brigade was in the city all commands 
were implicitly honored and vigorously executed. 

In his report, the major says : 

During the advance the command moved in magnificent style. The men were 



262 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



most completely under the control of their officers ; not a man straggled, not a 
man left his place. The conduct of both officers and men was such as to reflect 
credit on our cause and cast a luster of glory over the profession of arms. 

What was true of the First Michigan Sharpshooters and the Second Michigan, 
also applies truthfully to the rest of the command. I enclose herewith the 
"original" surrender of the city. 
Respectfully submitted. 
I remain, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

RALPH ELY, 
Brevet Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 
Brevet Major William V. Richards, 
Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XL VI, Part I, Serial 95, Page 1048.) 



REPORT OF CAPTAIN ALBERT A. DAY, TWENTIETH MICHIGAN 

INFANTRY. 

Headquarters Twentieth Michigan Volunteers, 
Ford's Farm, Va., April 18, 1865. 

Major — In compliance with extract from Special Orders No. 94, dated Head- 
quarters Army of the Potomac, April 14, 1865, I would respectfully report with 
regard to the operations of this regiment, as follows : 

The alarm having been given, the command was promptly turned out between 
10 and 11 o'clock the night of the 29th ultimo. With the exception of a 
desultory fire from the artillery of the enemy, nothing of importance took place 
during the night. The men remained under arms until daylight. Four men 
were wounded during the night. From that time forward the troops of this 
command in Battery No. 9 were almost constantly on the alert in expectation 
of an attack or evacuation on the part of the enemy, the men often being turned 
out three and four times during a night. On the morning of the 1st instant, 
fifty men were ordered into the skirmish pits to charge the enemy's works; the 
order being countermanded they were returned, to the regiment. The following 
morning the entire regiment was ordered out to support a charge to be made 
by the Second Michigan Volunteers before daylight. At daylight, nothing 
having been done on the left of Battery No. 9, where the Second Michigan was 
expected to make a demonstration, this regiment was ordered to form a line in 
rear of the skirmish pits in front of Fort McGilvery. After remaining in that 
position until about 9 a. m., the regiment was ordered back to Battery No. 9. 

On the morning of the 3rd instant, a short time before daylight, the evacuation 
of the enemy having been reported, the regiment entered the city of Petersburg 
the third in order, and the colors were placed with those of the First Michigan 
Sharpshooters on the Court House of that city. The men of the regiment were 
at once placed on duty as safeguards and provost guards. The regiment con- 
tinued on such duty until the morning of the 5th instant, when it moved with the 



APPENDIX 263 



brigade fifteen miles from Petersburg, on the Cox road, where it is at present on 
duty. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

ALBERT A. DAY, 
Captain, Commanding Twentieth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. 
Brevet Major C. A. Lounsberry, 

Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 1, Serial 95, Page 1039.) 



REPORT OF BREVET MAJOR GENERAL ORLANDO B. WILLCOX, 
U. S. ARMY, COMMANDING FIRST DIVISION. 

Headquarters First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
Washington, D. C, May 16, 1865. 

Major — I have the honor to report the operations of this division in the field 
from the 29th of March to the 9th of April, 1865, inclusive : 

On the night of the 29th of March, at 10 .30 o'clock, the enemy opened on my 
lines, stretching from Fort Morton to the Appomattox, with all their artillery of 
every description, and some musketry from- their main lines. At about 11 
o'clock the artillery was lulled. 

I expected an advance of the enemy's troops, and was ready to receive them, 
but no attack was made, and desultory firing of artillery only, continued through 
the night. 
****** **** 

The sensitiveness of the enemy seemed to encourage our men. 

Preparations were made on the 31st, as well as on April 1, for a night attack 
opposite Forts Haskell and Stedman, Third Brigade, and at a point in front of 
Ely's brigade, nearer the Appomattox. 

Through the night of the 2d, various threatening demonstrations were made 
along the line, and the enemy's picket-pits captured at various points, in pur- 
suance of orders from corps headquarters, made in aid of operations being car- 
ried on on the left of the army. 

At about 1 o'clock on the morning of the 2d of April orders were received 
from corps headquarters to mass one brigade, except garrisons, by 4 o'clock on 
the same morning near Fort Sedgwick, on the Second Division front, where 
General Hartranft was to make a real attack with his division and a brigade from 
each of the other divisions, while by the same order I was directed to make a 
vigorous demonstration along my whole division line with the rest of my troops 
at the same hour. Colonel Harriman was accordingly detached with staff offi- 
cers who knew the road, tools, ammunition, and every possible aid, to report to 
General Hartranft, and this brigade was in position and formed at the moment 
required. 

The demonstration ordered along the line began precisely at 4 by the Second 
Brigade, Brevet Colonel Ralph Ely; Third Brigade, Brevet Colonel G. P. Rob- 



264 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

inson, and Colonel William J. Bolton, commanding Fifty-first Pennsylvania, 
left on the First Brigade line of intrenchments. 

Some of the enemy's picket-pits were captured near the old Crater by Colonel 
Bolton. The pickets of the Third and Second Brigades, strongly reinforced, 
advanced handsomely, the artillery opened vigorously, and large portions were 
drawn down to oppose what they considered a real attack in force. 

On the extreme right, near the Appomattox, a portion of Ely's Brigade ac- 
tually carried some 200 yards of the enemy's works, but our lines, two miles in 
length, were too attenuated to hold the ground. Some seventy-five prisoners 
were secured and brought in. Three regiments were withdrawn from other 
points and double-quicked to the point, but before it could be reinforced, the 
enemy recovered it. 

The effect of this movement, however, on the general result was most happy, 
inasmuch as it contributed to weaken the enemy's line in front of Fort Sedg- 
wick, where the real attack was completely successful. For the handsome part 
performed by Harriman's brigade of this division, at the latter point, I respect- 
fully refer you to his own report and that of Brevet Major General Hartranft, 
commanding at that part of the line. 

Through the day, offensive demonstrations were kept up, and the batteries 
playing in aid. of the more serious work of the day going on further to our left. 
In the afternoon and evening, the enemy strengthened their line opposite me, 
but about midnight of the 2d, reports came up from Colonel Ely, commanding 
Second Brigade, and Colonel James Bintliff, now commanding Third Brigade, 
by virtue of his rank, that there were signs of the enemy withdrawing from our 
front, leaving only their picket line. I gave orders to the two brigade com- 
manders to press through as soon as possible. 

At about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 3d, some of our parties broke through, 
Bintliff's brigade advanced upon Cemetery Hill, and Ely more directly into the 
town, with a section of Stone's battery. I gave Colonel Ely orders to take meas- 
ures at once to secure order in the city. At 4:28 a. m., one of his flags, that of 
the First Michigan Sharpshooters, was raised on the Court House, and that of 
the Second Michigan on the Custom House, a few minutes later, and guards 
were posted about the town. The enemy had fired the bridges, but with the 
aid of the negroes, who manned the fire engines, our troops extinguished the 
flames in time to save the main structures, and skirmishers were at once pushed 
across the river, picking up stragglers and other prisoners. 

General Benham, commanding a brigade from City Point, who had taken post 
the night before in rear of my lines, entered the city, with me" and allowed me 
the use of a detachment of 200 cavalry, part of which patrolled the town and 
part were sent across the river on a reconnaissance, to learn the direction of 
the enemy's main route of retreat, which duty was performed correctly, and re- 
ported to the lieutenant general commanding the armies, who early advanced 
into the town in person. In two hours, notwithstanding the presence of troops 
from every corps, including colored troops, Petersburg, which had been be- 
sieged by our army nearly ten months, was as quiet, and property and persons as 
safe, as in Washington, an instance of discipline and good conduct on the part 
of troops, unsurpassed in military history. 



APPENDIX 265 



The number of prisoners captured on this and the following day, by scouring 
the country with scouting parties, was 1,045; number of muskets, 830; number of 
flags, 7 (forwarded to City Point to headquarters armies of the United States) ; 
value of quartermaster's and subsistence stores, $20,000. 

The division remained in Petersburg guarding the railroad two days when, 
by orders from corps headquarters, we moved up fo Sutherland's Station, on 
South Side Railroad, and connecting there with the Third Division, moved up 
along the railroad as the army advanced, until the 3d of April, when we 
stretched from Sutherland's Station to Wellville. 

For details of operations of the respective regiments of the division, I respect- 
fully refer you to accompanying reports of the brigade commanders, and com- 
mend their notice of gallant officers and men to the approval of the major gen- 
eral commanding the corps for brevet appointments. 

Accompanying the Second Brigade report, is the document of the city authori- 
ties surrendering the city of Petersburg to Colonel Ely. 

O. B. WILLCOX, 
Brevet Major General, Commanding. 
Brevet Major John D. Bertolette, 

Assistant Adjutant General, Ninth Army Corps and District of Alexandria. 



APPENDIX «H." 



IN THE TRENCHES— GRAND REVIEW— MUSTER OUT. 

I. Organization Second Brigade, January 31, 1865. 
II. Organization of First Division, February 4, 1865. 
III. Protest of Colonel B. M. Cutcheon against needless artillery firing, Feb- 
ruary 22, 1865. 
IV. Dispatch of Major General John G. Parke, on artillery firing, February 

22, 1865. 
V. Order to Second Brigade, February 2.2, 1865. 
VI. General Orders as to regimental Battle Flags. 
VII. Letter of Brevet Major General O. B. Willcox, relative to Colonel Byron 

M. Cutcheon. 
VIII. Organization of Second Brigade, April 30, 1865. 
IX. Order for Division in Grand Review, May 23. 

X. Strength of Brigade at Grand Review. 
XI. Final Orders of General Willcox. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 2, Page 331.) 



ORGANIZATION OF SECOND BRIGADE, JANUARY 31, 1865. 

Same as organization October 31, 1864. 

During the month of January, 1865, Colonel Cutcheon, commanding the brig- 
ade, received a leave of absence of twenty days, and during his temporary ab- 
sence from the front, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin J. March, Second Michigan, 
occupied brigade headquarters. Also on Colonel Cutcheon's resignation, March 
6, 1865, Lieutenant Colonel March commanded for a few days until Colonel 
Ely, Eighth Michigan, was assigned to the command by the division commander, 
General O. B. Willcox. 



APPENDIX 267 



(Official Records, Vol. XL VI, Part 2, Page 380.) 

REPORT OF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN G. PARKE, FEBRUARY 4, 1865. 

Headquarters Ninth Army Corps, 
February 4, 1865. 

Col. George D. Ruggles, 

Assistant Adjutant General, Army of the Potomac: 

Colonel— In accordance with circular of this date, I have the honor to report 
as follows : 

First Division— First Brigade commanded by Colonel Samuel Harriman, 
Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteers; Second Brigade, commanded by Colonel 
Byron M. Cutcheon, Twenty-seventh Michigan Volunteers ; Third Brigade, com- 
manded by Brevet Brigadier General N. B. McLaughlen, U. S. Volunteers, Col- 
onel Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. 
****** **** 

I have the honor to be. Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JOHN G. PARKE, 
Major General, Commanding. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 2, Page 645.) 

LETTER OF COLONEL BYRON M. CUTCHEON, ON FIRING. 

Hdqrs. Second Brig., First Div.. Ninth Army Corps, 
February 22, 1865. 
Lieutenant Col. P. M. Lydig, 

Assistant Adjutant General, Ninth Army Corps: 
Colonel— I desire respectfully to represent to the general commanding the 
corps, the character and results of the artillery firing upon this front. You are 
well aware that the expression, "Heavy Firing on the Appomattox Today," has 
become a stereotyped phrase, both in our journals and those of our enemy. I 
suppose there has been more firing upon this front than upon the whole remain- 
ing line of the Army of the Potomac. This firing is entirely beyond the control 
of the commanding officers of the infantry on the line, who are the sole sufferers 
from the firing. This firing seems to be directed by no general principle, and 
is directed at anything and everything, and sometimes apparently nothing, and 
when over, we stand the same that we did, minus a few good men. From the 
shelling my brigade has not lost less than 30 men since occupying this line, while 
the artillerymen, protected by strong fort traverses, have not lost a man, so far 
as I am aware. Take the example of today : The fight began by Battery No. 5 
shelling a couple of cars loaded with commissary stores. It was a long time 
before the enemy replied, but they did at last open with all their metal, and the 
result is that tonight I have three valuable men lying dead in the hospital and 
three more disabled. Whatever perils and hardships the necessary exigencies of 



268 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 



the service require, of course we expect to submit to without murmur or remon- 
strance ; but I submit that the necessary peril and expenditure of life is amply 
sufficient without any needless or frivolous sacrifices, and, as our batteries always 
take the initiative, I am unable to understand why it is necessary to expend so 
much more ammunition on this than other parts of the line. 
I am, Colonel, your obedient servant, 

BYRON M. CUTCHEON, 

Colonel, Commanding Brigade. 

(Official Records, Vol. XL VI, Part 2, Page 642.) 



LETTER OF MAJOR GENERAL JOHN G. PARKE, FEBRUARY 22, 1865. 

Headquarters Ninth Army Corps, 
February 22, 1865. 
General J. A. Rawlins, 

Chief of Staff, City Point: 

The firing was commenced by our people opening from No. 5 upon a train 
of cars on Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. The enemy replied from Ches- 
terfield, Goose Neck, and their several mortar batteries in front of the line from 
Stedman to our right. 

JOHN G. PARKE. 

Major General. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 2, Page 644.) 



LETTER OF CAPTAIN R. A. HUTCHINS, TO COLONEL B. M. 

CUTCHEON. 

Headquarters First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
February 22, 1865. 
Col. Byron M. Cutcheon, 

Commanding Second Brigade : 

In accordance with instructions from corps headquarters, you will order the 
First Michigan Sharpshooters, Second Michigan, and Sixtieth Ohio Volunteers, 
to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice, in light marching order, with 
sixty rounds of ammunition and four days' rations. The other regiments of your 
brigade will garrison the works on your front. The present picket will remain 
under charge of the officers already detailed. In case of a movement you will 
assume command of the entire line of this division, and the above named regi- 
ments will report to Brevet Colonel G. P. Robinson, commanding Third Brigade, 
at his headquarters. 

I am, very respectfully, 

ROBT A. HUTCHINS, 

Assistant Adjutant General 



APPENDIX 269 



(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 2, Pages 865 and 867.) 

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, 
March 7, 1865. 

General Orders 
No. 10. 

In accordance with the requirements of Generals Orders No. 19, of 1862, from 
the War Department, and in conformity with the reports of boards convened to 
examine into the services rendered by the troops concerned, and by the author- 
ity of the lieutenant general commanding Armies of the United States, it is or- 
dered that there shall be inscribed upon the colors of guidons of the following 
regiments and batteries serving in this army the names of the battles in which 
they have borne a meritorious part, and as hereinafter specified, viz. : 

jf:*:-:****** * 

Twentieth Michigan Volunteers — Fredericksburg, Siege of Vicksburg, Jack- 
son, Blue Springs, Campbell's Station, Siege of Knoxville, Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
vania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad, Petersburg, Poplar Springs 
Church, Reams' Station, Hatcher's Run. 



By command of Major General Meade. 



GEO. D. RUGGLES, 
Assistant Adjutant General. 



(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 2, Page 180.) 



LETTER OF O. B. WILLCOX TO GENERAL JOHN G. PARKE. 

Headquarters First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
January 19, 1865. 

Maj. Gen. John G. Parke, 

Commanding Ninth Army Corps : 

General — I would respectfully call your notice, for such action as you may 
deem best, the merits of Colonel Byron M. Cutcheon, Twenty-seventh Michigan 
Volunteers. He has been almost constantly in the field since October, 1862; dis- 
tinguished himself as major of the Twentieth Michigan Volunteers, in Ken- 
tucky, on the Cumberland River, and in East Tennessee, in 1863; and, as 
lieutenant colonel, commanding that regiment, behaved with conspicuous gal- 
lantry at the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, where he was wounded. He has 
commanded the Second Brigade of this division in the more recent operations, 
and has brought that brigade up to the highest efficiency. Other officers are 
expected to join, of senior rank, but far inferior in merit, to Cutcheon, and I 
do not think it would be for the interest of the service to have this gallant 
brigade change hands. You will remember that he has been breveted colonel 



270 TWENTIETH MICHIGAN INFANTRY 

and recommended for brevet as brigadier general. I beg leave to recommend 
that he be either appointed or breveted brigadier general of volunteers. 
I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

O. B. WILLCOX, 
Brevet Mai or General. Commanding. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 3, Page 1039.) 

ORGANIZATION SECOND BRIGADE, APRIL 30, 1865. 
Same as organization of October 31, 1864. 

(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 3, Page 1188.) 

ORDER FOR GRAND REVIEW. 

Hdqrs. District of Alexandria, Ninth Army Corps, 
Alexandria, Va., May 21, 1865. 
Col. George D. Ruggles, 

Assistant Adjutant General, Army of the Potomac: 

Colonel — In compliance with instructions of yesterday's date from headquar- 
ters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to submit the following as the 
order in column of the troops of the Ninth Army Corps, as arranged for the 
review ordered for 23d instant : 

Major General John G. Parke, commanding, and staff; cavalry escort (detach- 
ment Second Pennsylvania Cavalry), Lieutenant D. R. Maxwell commanding. 

First Division, Ninth Army Corps, Brevet Major General O. B. Willcox com- 
manding: First Brigade, Colonel Samuel Harriman, commanding — Thirty- 
eighth Wisconsin Volunteers, Colonel James Bimliff; Twenty-seventh Michigan 
Volunteers, Colonel Charles Waite; Seventeenth Michigan Volunteers, Lieuten- 
ant Colonel F. W. Swift ; Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteers, Lieutenant 
Colonel John Green; One Hundred and Ninth New York Volunteers, Captain 
Z. G Gordon; Seventy-ninth New York Volunteers, Major A. D. Baird. Sec- 
ond Brigade, Brevet Colonel Ralph Ely, commanding — First Sharpshooters and 
Second Michigan Volunteers, Lieutenant Colonel A. W. Nichols; Forty-sixth 
New York Veteran Volunteers, Lieutenant Colonel Adolph Becker; Fiftieth 
Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, Lieutenant Colonel W. H. Telford; Twentieth 
Michigan Volunteers, Lieutenant Colonel C. A. Lounsberry ; Sixtieth Ohio Vol- 
unteers, Lieutenant Colonel M. P. Avery. Third Brigade, Brevet General N. B. 
McLaughlen, commanding — Third Maryland Battalion Volunteers, Brevet Col- 
onel G. P. Robinson ; Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, Colonel E. G. 
Marshall; Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. Captain Frederick Cochran; 
One Hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel N. J. Maxwell. 
********** 

I have the honor to be, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

JOHN G. PARKE, 
. Major General, Commanding. 



APPENDIX 



271 



(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 3, Page 1207.) 



REPORT OF STRENGTH OF SECOND BRIGADE AT GRAND REVIEW, 

MAY 23, 1865. 



Second Brigade. 


Commis- 
sioned 
officers. 


Enlisted 
men. 


Total. 




7 
27 
15 
18 
16 
10 


49 
302 
296 
4&5 
229 
304 




First Sharpshooters and Second Michigan Volunteers 




Forty-Sixth New York Volunteers 




Fiftieth Pennsylvania Volunteers 


















93 


1,615 


1,708 





(Official Records, Vol. XLVI, Part 3, Page 1238.) 



Special Orders 
No. 101. 



Headquarters First Division, Ninth Army Corps, 
Washington, D. C, May 30, 1865. 



II. The term of service of the Seventeenth and Twentieth Michigan and One 
Hundred and Ninth New York Infantry Volunteer Regiments expiring before 
the 1st of October next, they will be mustered out and proceed to their respective 
places of rendezvous in the states to which they belong. The quartermaster's 
department will furnish the necessary transportation. These regiments have all 
won an honorable fame in the history of the present war. The Seventeenth and 
Twentieth Michigan have served nearly three years under their present division 
commander. It is with pride and gratitude that he refers to their distinguished 
gallantry on many a hard fought field from South Mountain to Petersburg. 
The One Hundred and Ninth New York, as one of the younger regiments of this 
division, may well feel proud of its record. But one year ago, when this regi- 
ment joined, its ranks were full, and ihe bloody battlefields from the Rapidan 
to Petersburg bear witness to the courage with which they sacrificed themselves 
to their country. 

May those who remain of those three regiments long live to enjoy the reward 
of well doing and lofty patriotism in the happiness of honorable homes and the 
admiration of their countrymen. 

By command of Brevet Major General O. B. Willcox. 

WARREN A. NORTON, 
Acting Assistant Adjutant General. 



The committee having the publication of the Story of the 
Regiment in charge, would have been glad to secure its publi- 
cation in larger type; but as less than 200 copies had been sub- 
scribed the time the contract was let, it was impossible to secure 
its publication in larger type. No bid was within the amount at 
the disposal of the committee by a very considerable sum. Only 
by making a special arrangement with the Robert Smith Printing 
Company was the committee able to secure its publication. 

The committee was obliged to eliminate some sketches 
which would have added interest to the book, and confine the 
narrative to a history of the organization and movements of the 
Regiment as a whole. 

In the matter of photographs, the committee was obliged to 
confine them to those of Generals Burnside, Willcox, and the field 
and staff officers, including those who at some time had command 
of the Regiment, and those who fell in battle, or died of disease 
while in the army, with one exception. After the death of Cap- 
tain Charles T. Allen, one of the bravest of men, and a universal 
favorite with the Regiment, the committee concluded that there 
could be no invidious distinction in publishing his photograph, 
although he had never had command of the Regiment. 

C. B. Grant, 
Sam'l H. Row, 
C. W. Maynard, 
H. R. Mills, 
Andrew Knight. 

Committee. 



